Mike Pereira’s ‘understanding’ of college football replay only makes Michigan’s Clockgate more confusing

The Michigan Wolverines’ 13-12 win over the Western Michigan Broncos is one of college football’s biggest controversies right now. It appeared the clock had run to zero after the Wolverines’ failed Hail Mary attempt. However, officials put one more second back on the clock after claiming a Broncos player touched the ball while out of bounds.

The Big Ten alleged that their officials use a different clock that is not seen by viewers, and that clock indicated that a Broncos player had touched the ball. But the lack of transparency is what is unsettling for college football fans. Now, former referee Mike Pereira weighs in, and it sounds like he is as confused as everybody else, according to Bruce Feldman and Ralph D. Russo of The Athletic.

“It is my understanding that if there is a discrepancy between the video and replay command center versus the television network video that everybody sees, that replay is to use the TV video,” Pereira told The Athletic Sunday. “And that is the same protocol in the NFL, in the UFL. It’s the same. You use the footage that everybody sees if there is a discrepancy.”

While that may be true about the NFL and UFL, that rule is not nearly as clear in college football, per Feldman and Russo. They state that the rules do not specify which clock officials should use during a discrepancy. However, they are informed to utilize the clock available on the replay monitors throughout the game.

“That is not, however, spelled out in the NCAA’s Instant Replay Case Book,” Feldman and Russo wrote. “There is no reference to which clock to defer to if there is a discrepancy. Within the Timing section of the Instant Replay Case Book, there are references directing officials to use ‘the game clock superimposed on the replay monitor.'”

Overall, it’s still a confusing situation, and perhaps the NCAA will have to update the Instant Replay Case Book for next season. For now, however, Michigan begins the season 1-0.

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