Ex-NFL star, WMU alum has idea to 'make it right' after clock fiasco

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What's done is done. Western Michigan lost, Michigan won, and that's not going to change.

But one prominent WMU alum has floated another way for all parties to rectify the situation, in the wake of Michigan's stunning — and controversial — win over Western Michigan at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor last Saturday, Sept. 5.

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Jason Babin, who starred at Western Michigan before going on to a long career in the NFL, said on social media this week that Michigan, the Big Ten or the TV networks, or some combination of all three, should actually cut Western Michigan a check. He suggested an "eight-figure" check.

His point: The big boys can afford it, Western Michigan sure could use it (especially in this era of NIL), and it's at least a gesture that would help all parties move on.

"I'm thinking to myself, 'OK, no putting the genie back in the bottle, what could we do to rectify the situation?'" Babin said on X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week, as the reaction to Michigan's last-second, 13-12 victory was still white hot, especially on social media. "Can't change the outcome. Can't say Western's got the win, frickin' Michigan's got the loss. that would look worse than Michigan fans storming the field after the game. The only thing I can think logically that could possibly make the situation relatively better would be an eight-figure check, maybe from the Big Ten, from Michigan, maybe a combination, networks, I don't know, somebody — a financial donation, we could call it.

"There needs to be something done substantial, it needs to be public, it needs to hurt a little bit, it needs to sting. I think that's the only way that college football for that matter can move on.

"And it's not just sour grapes. It's the entire internet. ... The situation is bogus."

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Babin's video post was under the header: "Make it right."

Babin said he's heard from "many" former NFL teammates, including some who played at Michigan, who disagreed with the officials' decision at the end of the game.

With Western Michigan, a 27.5-point underdog, leading, 12-7, with 9 seconds left, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood threw a Hail Mary incomplete out of the back of the end zone.

The TV feed, via NBC and Peacock, showed no time left on the clock. But after review, officials put one second back on, citing the Big Ten's internal clock. With one more play, Underwood threw another Hail Mary, and this was one was caught by JJ Buchanan for the shocking win.

Afterward, the Big Ten explained its decision, and provided video showing what they saw in the moment, as well as audio of the officials deliberating.

Western Michigan and the Mid-American Conference accepted the Big Ten's reasoning, though the MAC later appealed to the NCAA and the College Football Playoff to get the result overturn, saying protocols weren't followed.

The NCAA, of course, refused to hear the appeal, noting its rule book clearly states that officials' decisions on game's end are final. There is no precedent for overturning a game result because of a call by officials.

The NCAA, however, did clarify its clock rules moving forward, saying the embedded stadium clock used on the broadcast feed should be used by officials moving forward. Had that been the case, Western would've won.

The Big Ten also this week announced it would show live-look replay deliberations on most broadcasts this season.

Babin, 46, a Paw Paw native, played at Western Michigan from 2000-03 and was a first-round pick (No. 27 overall) by the Houston Texans in 2004. He played 12 seasons in the NFL, with nine different teams. The former linebacker and defensive end was a two-time Pro Bowler, once with the Tennessee Titans and once with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Since retirement, he has been active back at Western Michigan, helping out with the defense during spring and summer camps. He is an NIL donor.

"It's really personal to me," Babin said on X. "We've gotta get something in return to make this go away."

Western Michigan got $1.5 million to play at Michigan in 2026. WMU is scheduled to play at Michigan again in 2029.

Babin also suggested the idea of a "College GameDay" experience at Western Michigan, though that will be the call of ESPN, a network not affiliated with last week's controversy. That said, WMU does host Boise State later this month, on Sept. 26, in a meeting of two Group of Six teams expected to contend for a CFP spot, so we'll see how that shakes out.

Western Michigan plays at home Saturday, Sept. 12, against Monmouth.

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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Ex-NFL star, WMU alum has idea to 'make it right' after clock fiasco

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