Controversial Hail Mary Victory
Michigan Survives Western Michigan With Controversial Late Hail Mary Touchdown
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Key Points
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Bryce Underwood completed 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the victory; he also completed all five of his passes for 61 yards on Michigan’s decisive final scoring drive.
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Whittingham said Michigan’s locker room did not celebrate loudly after the win because the team understood how much work remained: “There was not a lot of hooting and hollering in that locker room. In fact, there was none.”
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The victory preserved Michigan’s chance to avoid joining the program’s recent home-opening upset losses, including the 2007 defeat to Appalachian State and the 2008 loss to Toledo.
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The finish was framed as a reversal of Michigan’s infamous “Miracle at Michigan,” in which Colorado’s Kordell Stewart threw a last-second touchdown to Michael Westbrook; the Wolverines’ escape instead came on a Hail Mary thrown by Underwood.
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JJ Buchanan, who caught the winning touchdown, was identified as a former Utah receiver, linking the dramatic play to Whittingham’s previous program before Michigan’s Week 2 matchup with No. 10 Oklahoma.
Michigan survived Western Michigan 13-12 in Kyle Whittingham's debut, but the victory came shrouded in controversy. Officials restored one second to the clock after an apparently game-ending Hail Mary attempt, allowing Bryce Underwood to connect with JJ Buchanan on a 47-yard touchdown that turned a likely upset into a dramatic Wolverines win Big Ten. The ruling has drawn intense scrutiny, with NBC Sports questioning how officials determined time remained on the clock.
Whittingham, despite preserving Michigan's season-opening record, kept celebration muted in the locker room. "There was not a lot of hooting and hollering in that locker room. In fact, there was none," he said ESPN, acknowledging the team's struggles with run defense, run offense, and turnover protection. Michigan lost the turnover battle 3-0 against the Broncos.
The Controversial Clock Restoration That Saved Michigan
With seconds ticking away and Michigan trailing, Underwood heaved the Hail Mary that appeared to be deflected incomplete. Officials initially let the clock run down, seemingly ending the game. But replay officials restored one second, giving Michigan another chance Big Ten. The decision sparked immediate backlash, with fans and analysts questioning the transparency of the replay process and whether officials favored the home team.
NBC Sports reported that a rules analyst openly questioned how officials determined that time remained after reviewing the footage. Brob Bible noted that fans widely rejected the Big Ten's explanation, with the league releasing raw video footage and a statement attempting to defend the controversial call Brob Bible.
Underwood's Game-Winning Drive on the Final Second
After the clock was restored, Underwood faced the most pressure of his Michigan debut. He completed all five passes for 61 yards on the decisive final drive, culminating in the 47-yard touchdown to Buchanan Essential Sports. For the game, Underwood completed 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, showing flashes of competence despite Michigan's offensive struggles.
Buchanan, a former Utah receiver who played under Whittingham, made the catch that saved Michigan's season opener Yahoo Sports. The irony was not lost on observers: Whittingham's last program had also been involved in dramatic final-second plays, linking Utah's legacy to Michigan's narrow escape.
Whittingham's Measured Victory After Avoiding Historic Upset
The win preserved Michigan's streak of avoiding historic home-opening losses. The Wolverines escaped joining the 2007 defeat to Appalachian State and the 2008 loss to Toledo—two of the program's most embarrassing moments Essential Sports. A loss to Western Michigan would have ranked among the worst upsets in school history.
Yet Whittingham showed little relief, instead channeling frustration into preparation for Oklahoma. Michigan's run defense allowed Western Michigan to move the ball easily, and the offense struggled to establish rhythm. "There was a lot to fix," Whittingham said, keeping his team focused on the Week 2 matchup against No. 10 Oklahoma rather than celebrating a controversial escape Essential Sports.
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