Michigan 13, Western Michigan 12, September 5: Hail Mary on Restored Second Ends Upset Bid
Bryce Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan on a Hail Mary as time expired to give Michigan a 13-12 victory over Western Michigan on September 5, but officials' decision to restore one second to the clock after reviewing the previous play has drawn immediate scrutiny from media analysts and the MAC commissioner.
Michigan and Western Michigan were tied at 12 apiece late on September 5 when Bryce Underwood attempted a Hail Mary for JJ Buchanan with time expiring. The ball fell incomplete as the clock hit 0:00, and Western Michigan had survived a 27.5-point upset bid as a 27.5-point underdog. Then officials reviewed the previous play, put one second back on the clock, and allowed Michigan a final snap. On that second attempt, Underwood found Buchanan amid Western Michigan defenders in the end zone. Michigan won 13-12, giving Kyle Whittingham a dramatic victory in his debut as head coach.
The clock restoration stands at the center of immediate controversy. NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay said on air that no explanation was given for why a second was restored when both the game clock and NBC's broadcast clock read 0:00 before the ball reached a player. Multiple media figures questioned the decision within hours: Pete Thamel noted the extra second would be "the most scrutinized second in college football this weekend"; Dan Wolken called it "a major college football scandal" and called for "investigations and firings"; Stewart Mandel stated the conference would need to explain why a second was restored; Chris Vannini said all replays showed 0 seconds; Chris Fallica called it "total robbery."
Michigan's offense had limped to the finish. According to CBS Sports, Underwood's footwork and timing were inconsistent, causing him to miss several routine throws. The run game was a non-factor for most of the night and the offensive line failed to get a push up front despite a major talent advantage, per CBS Sports. An ill-timed throw to the sideline late in the second quarter resulted in a turnover that was nearly returned for a touchdown by Western Michigan's Dillon Moore, according to CBS Sports reporting.
Underwood, the freshman quarterback, is facing questions about his consistency. In last season's loss to Oklahoma, he finished 9-of-24 for 142 yards with a QBR of 44.5, his worst outing as a freshman, according to CBS Sports.
Western Michigan would have secured their first win over Michigan in nine all-time meetings if the final score had stood, per CBS Sports.
Jason Beck was making his debut as Michigan's offensive coordinator. Oklahoma comes to Ann Arbor next weekend following a 51-point shutout win over UTEP, according to CBS Sports.
Michigan defeated Western Michigan 13-12 when officials added one second back to the clock after review, allowing Underwood to complete a touchdown pass to Buchanan that initially appeared to occur after time had expired at 0:00.
The Big Ten has not released an official explanation for the clock restoration. MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher has reached out to Big Ten officiating about the call, signaling institutional concern at the conference level. The question of whether the one second was legitimate correction or officiating error will likely shape how the finish is remembered and how closely similar moments are reviewed in future games.
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