Outcomes cannot be overturned after officials have declared a game has ended
The Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee this week discussed the timing issue that arose in the Sept. 5 game between Michigan and Western Michigan.
The review was conducted after the committee received a letter from the Mid-American Conference that called for the outcome to be overturned, saying end-of-game timing procedures were not followed.
The committee confirmed that it does not have the authority to overturn the contest. The playing rules governing the result of a contest are clear. Once the referee declares a contest to be final, no appeal of the outcome is permitted, according to Rules 1-1-3-b and 5-2-9 of the NCAA football rules:
- Rule 1-1-3-b: When the referee declares that the game is ended, the score is final.
- Rule 5-2-9: No rule decision may be changed after the ball is next legally snapped, legally free-kicked or the second or fourth periods have ended.
The committee consulted with national officiating leadership regarding the instant replay protocols. Based on that information, the committee agreed that the instant replay protocols were not followed in the contest’s second-to-last play. Had the protocols been followed, the outcome of the game would have been different.
On Sept. 8, Matt Young, the NCAA secretary rules-editor for football, issued an interpretation on official game timing protocols to reinforce the proper procedures governing the end of either half.
When a replay review requires time to be restored or otherwise adjusted, the replay official’s decision will be based on the embedded game clock contained within the program feed. If the broadcaster is unable to provide an embedded game clock, the replay official will use the game-clock graphic displayed as part of the broadcast feed.
This will be the Division I FBS Oversight Committee’s only statement on this matter.
