FBS Oversight Committee can't overturn WMU-Michigan result, even after improper protocols

The FBS oversight committee issued a statement on Wednesday evening announcing that it would not be able to overturn the Week 1 result between Michigan and Western Michigan, even though improper replay protocols were used to give the Wolverines one extra second to complete their game-winning Hail Mary pass. 

The committee acknowledged that had the proper protocols been followed, it would have resulted in a different outcome. 

That means Western Michigan would have, and should have, won the game.

But there is nothing the committee can do after the fact.

FBS Oversight Committee explains why it can't overturn Michigan-WMU outcome

The committee made sure to point out that specific, hardline rules prevent the changing of any outcome.

From the committee's statement on Wednesday:

"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 one hand, it has to be somewhat vindicating for Western Michigan and the MAC to get confirmation that they were, in fact, cheated out of what should have been a signature win for the program. 

But that is a small consolation when the outcome remains wrong.

The question now becomes how much of a lasting impact this will continue to have on Michigan.

While the NCAA can not actually overturn the result, there is nothing stopping AP voters from holding the outcome against the Wolverines. There is also nothing stopping the College Football Playoff committee from holding it against them, given that they are a completely independent operation from the NCAA.

It is hard to imagine a more controversial ending to a college football game this season, and even though nothing about it is changing, the fallout from it may still eventually be felt later in the year.