Western Michigan looks to move forward with intensity

Mid-American Conference commissioner Jon A. Steinbrecher wrote letters requesting the NCAA overturn the result and asking the College Football Playoff selection committee to recognize Western Michigan as the winner in its evaluations. The NCAA issued new guidance to establish a standard timing protocol for game clocks, with the MAC contending the extra second would not have been added had proper protocol been followed.

By Tuesday's practice, Sims had addressed the team, urging teammates to channel the pain into every remaining game, and Lowry said the Broncos practiced with intensity as if they had won. Taylor addressed players for about three minutes after the game, telling them it was OK to hurt and that they had come close to a historic victory.

Western Michigan won its fourth MAC title last season, its first in nine years, and after the season identified 28 players it wanted to keep, losing only deep snapper RJ Todd to Oregon despite 80 MAC scholarship players transferring to Power 4 schools this offseason. Lowry, the reigning MAC offensive player of the year, said players chose to return to keep playing for each other and for Taylor.