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In a surprising twist, Western Michigan head coach Lance Taylor has been awarded the Paul "Bear" Bryant national coach of the week honor, an accolade typically reserved for victors. The announcement, made on Tuesday, September 8, came just three days after the Broncos suffered a last-second, disputed loss to Michigan. This marks the first time in the award's history, which began in 2024, that it has been presented to a coach coming off a loss.
The recognition arrived shortly after the Mid-American Conference (MAC) declared its intention to appeal the game's outcome to the NCAA and the College Football Playoff. The controversy stemmed from a Hail Mary touchdown pass from Bryce Underwood to JJ Buchanan as time expired, giving Michigan a 13-12 victory. On-field officials had placed one second back on the clock, citing their own replay timing, which contradicted the zero seconds displayed on the NBC/Peacock broadcast.
Initially, the MAC had accepted the Big Ten's explanation for the clock adjustment in the early hours of Sunday morning. However, by Tuesday, the conference reversed its stance, citing the high stakes involved—Western Michigan is a strong contender for the Group of Six's automatic bid to the College Football Playoff. Despite the controversy, Taylor and university president Russ Kavalhuna have gracefully accepted the defeat, drawing both praise and criticism for their composed response.
Key Analysis
Taylor, 45, led the Broncos to a MAC championship and bowl victory in 2025, and entered this season with high expectations after returning all eligible starters on both offense and defense. Western Michigan was a 27.5-point underdog against then-No. 16 Michigan, which has since dropped out of the AP Top 25 and now receives votes alongside the Broncos. The team was seeking its first-ever victory over a top-20 opponent.
The Bryant award, presented by the American Heart Association, honors the legendary Alabama coach who died in 1983. Notably, Taylor's father, Jim, played under Bryant at Alabama, and Taylor himself is an Alabama alum. Taylor is the second recipient of the award this year, following Memphis' Charles Huff. Western Michigan will host Monmouth on Saturday, September 12, as they look to rebound from the narrow defeat.
Originally reported by yahoo.