Michigan escaped an upset on September 5, 2026, defeating Western Michigan 13-12 after replay officials added one second back to the stadium game clock, allowing Bryce Underwood to throw a 47-yard game-winning Hail Mary to JJ Buchanan as time expired in Ann Arbor.
College football’s opening weekend delivered its share of blowouts, but no result generated more immediate controversy, internet outrage, and disbelief than the final moments at Michigan Stadium. The Wolverines survived a stunning upset bid from a Mid-American Conference opponent, escaping with a 1-0 record. Yet the postgame conversation focused entirely on an officiating decision that left fans, analysts, and opposing conferences arguing over a phantom second.
The Controversial Final Play and the Replay Review That Saved Michigan
With time winding down and Western Michigan holding a 12-7 advantage late in the fourth quarter, Michigan faced a desperate situation.
That initial Hail Mary fell incomplete, and the stadium clock hit 0:00. The upset appeared complete, and Western Michigan players began celebrating what would have been a historic victory. However, following a video review, the officiating crew determined that Western Michigan’s Micah Davis touched the ball while jumping from an out-of-bounds position with exactly one second remaining.
“Following video review, it was determined Western Michigan’s No. 18 started his jump from an established out-of-bounds position (left foot) and made contact with the ball with one second remaining on the clock.”
Big Ten officiating crew, via official statement
The clock was reset to 0:01. On the ensuing untimed down, Underwood uncorked another deep pass, and Buchanan reeled in the 47-yard game-winning touchdown catch as time officially expired for a 13-12 final score. The stadium erupted, but the college football world outside of Ann Arbor immediately questioned the legitimacy of the finish.
Broadcasters, Rules Experts, and Fans Challenge the Big Ten’s Explanation
Television coverage fueled the immediate skepticism. NBC broadcasts showed multiple replays where the stadium clock on the screen reached zero while the football was still airborne and well away from any receiver. Terry McAuley, NBC’s rules analyst and a former referee, voiced open confusion on the air regarding how the replay system arrived at the extra second.
“The ball isn’t even close to touching the player when it goes to zero. Now their Hawk Eye system apparently either was — had a different sync or whatever and they came up with one second when it touched the players. I don’t see how that happened assuming our clock is correct. It is clearly not touching the player. It is clearly still in the air when the clock goes to zero on our screen. So the Big Ten’s going to have to tell a lot of us how did they get to one second on this play.”
Photo: cbssports.com
Terry McAuley, NBC rules analyst
Hours after the game concluded, the Big Ten released a formal statement attempting to clear up the confusion. The conference provided a synchronized video showing a direct shot of the stadium game clock alongside the broadcast angle. Officials maintained that broadcast cameras and the replay system, including the clock camera, were synced using a strobe system 85 minutes prior to kickoff pursuant to NCAA rules.
MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher later stated that his conference also reviewed the footage and agreed with the explanation provided by the Big Ten.
Offensive Struggles and What Lies Ahead for the Wolverines
Beyond the officiating controversy, the game exposed significant vulnerabilities for a Michigan squad entering a much tougher test in Week 2.
WEEK 1 RECAP: Michigan's Hail Mary Win, Oregon's Narrow Victory, and Ohio State's Dominance
Yet the Broncos’ defensive lapse on the game’s final snap left them empty-handed after holding a lead late into the fourth quarter.
Michigan faces an intensive film review before welcoming Oklahoma to the Big House. The Sooners bring a high-powered roster, a robust defense, and a dangerous quarterback into Ann Arbor, presenting an immediate test for a Michigan team that supporters and critics alike agree should have opened the season with a loss.
