The Victors

FBS Oversight Committee statement on second-quarter holding protocols

September 16, 2026 | NCAA Staff

Outcomes cannot be overturned after officials have declared a game has ended

The Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee this week discussed the officiating 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 holding procedures were not followed during a second-quarter Michigan touchdown drive.

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 holding protocols.

Based on that information, the committee agreed that the holding protocols were not followed on a second-quarter Michigan touchdown play. Under the established protocol, when determining whether an offensive lineman has committed holding, the covering official must base the decision on the positioning and movement of the blocker’s hands as observed from the designated officiating angle.

On the play in question, the covering official instead relied upon his direct view of the play from the field and determined that no holding foul had occurred.

Had the established holding protocol been followed, offensive holding would have been called, the touchdown would have been nullified and a 10-yard penalty would have been enforced.

Had the protocols been followed, the outcome of the game would have been different.

The NCAA has subsequently issued an interpretation on holding protocols to reinforce the proper procedures governing such plays.

This will be the Division I FBS Oversight Committee’s only statement on this matter.