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· collected 2026-09-06 · by Matt Reigle
A controversy surrounding a last-second clock stoppage allowed Michigan to avoid a massive upset against Western Michigan in their season-opening game. The teams played a low-scoring, defensive battle that ended 13-12 in favor of the Wolverines, who were 27.5-point favorites entering the game. A Hail Mary pass by Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood was initially ruled out of bounds with no time remaining, but officials later determined there was one second left on the clock after reviewing the play. The decision allowed Michigan to take one more snap and score a game-winning touchdown.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 10, 2023, the Michigan Wolverines played against Western Michigan Broncos in a college football game. The Broncos thought they had won with a 13-12 score when Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood's first Hail Mary attempt sailed out of bounds with zero seconds remaining on the clock. However, officials reviewed the play and added one second back to the clock, giving Michigan another chance at a game-winning score.
Underwood threw a second Hail Mary, which was caught by JJ Buchanan for a 47-yard touchdown pass, securing a 13-12 victory for the Wolverines. The decision sparked controversy, with many questioning why officials added time back on the clock and whether it was fair to give Michigan another chance at winning.
The Big Ten Conference stood behind the decision, citing a rule that stops the clock when contact is made with the ball from an out-of-bounds position. However, some analysts and referees disputed this explanation, calling it a "pile of garbage" and criticizing the Big Ten league office for their handling of the situation.
This incident has been compared to Michigan's 2007 upset loss to Appalachian State, which was one of the biggest upsets in college football history. The controversy surrounding the game's ending has left players, fans, and officials puzzled, with many questioning the fairness of the decision.
Written for “Michigan Clock Controversy” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
We just passed the 19th anniversary of Michigan's shocking upset loss to Appalachian State that opened their 2007 season.
asserted
that → pass → season
Well, we came about as close as you can to another major Michigan upset to kick off this year.
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you → come → upset
A Hail Mary and a clock controversy superseded the close game between the Wolverines and the Western Michigan Broncos.
asserted
Mary → supersede → Wolverines
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood had one more desperation heave in him.
asserted
Underwood → have → him
His pass sailed out of the back of the end zone, leading to the Broncos' celebration.
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pass → sail → celebration
Officials determined there was one second remaining on the clock when the ball was thrown.
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ball → determine → clock
It allowed Michigan one more play.
asserted
It → allow → play
This time, Underwood connected with J.J. Buchanan for the game-winning score.
asserted
Underwood → connect → score
The Wolverines came out with the 13-12 victory.
asserted
Wolverines → come → victory
But how there was one second left after Underwood's initial throw became all that anyone would talk about.
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anyone → be → that
Officials called for a review.
asserted
Officials → call → review
TV replays showed the clock hitting zero before the ball hit the hands of the Western Michigan defender.
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ball → show → defender
Still, officials ruled there was a second left in the game.
asserted
officials → rule → game
The Big Ten Conference stood by the decision.
asserted
Conference → stand → decision
"It was determined Western Michigan 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," the conference said, citing a rule that stops the clock on such contact.
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that → determine → contact
Michgan came out unscathed.
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Michgan → come → ?
As is often the case in these Week 1 matchups, Michigan came into this one as an overwhelming 27.5-point favorite.
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Michigan → come → favorite
Oddsmakers were also looking at a fairly high-scoring game with the o/u set at 49.5.
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u → look → 49.5
However, this turned into a low-scoring, defensive battle, with Michigan opening the scoring when QB Bryce Underwood punched it into the end zone from the 1-yard line.
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Underwood → turn → line
A few minutes later, the Broncos answered with a field goal, then tacked on another before halftime, and that was the end of the scoring in the first half.
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that → answer → half
The teams went to the locker room with Michigan up just 7-6.
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Michigan → go → room
That was a stunner, but surely Michigan would come out firing and put the 2025 MAC champions away.
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Michigan → come → champions
The next time either team would score wasn't until the fourth quarter, when Western Michigan kicked their third field goal of the game to go up 9-7.
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Michigan → score → game
Both teams failed to score on their next drives, but with Michigan looking like they were on the verge of at least marching downfield for a late game-winning field goal, the Broncos pulled off a stunner.
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Broncos → fail → stunner
Western Michigan's Joshua Franklin managed to punch the ball out of Underwood's grasp as he fell to the turf, with the Broncos pouncing on top of it.
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Broncos → manage → it
Despite a scare due to a fumble of their own, the Broncos hung on to the ball and added another field goal to go up 12-7.
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Broncos → hang → goal
On the ensuing drive, Underwood connected with receiver Channing Goodwin around midfield, and with no timeouts, the Wolverines scrambled to the line of scrimmage to spike the ball with just nine seconds on the clock.
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Wolverines → ensue → clock
On the final play of the game, Underwood found space and gave his receivers time to get downfield before heaving a bomb that ended up sailing just out the back of the end zone.
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that → find → zone
But Michigan caught a break.
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Michigan → catch → break
Upon review, it was found that there was still one second left on the clock.
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it → find → clock
It was a controversial call, to say the least.
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It → say → least
The decision left just enough time for the Wolverines to get a snap off, with Underwood connecting with Buchanan for a touchdown and a 13-12 Michigan win.
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Underwood → leave → win
He also rushed for 46 yards and one touchdown.
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He → rush → yards
That's a maiden win for the Kyle Whittingham era in Ann Arbor, and surely no one saw it looking like that.
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it → see → that
We're barely into the college football season, and we already have a classic (with a bit of controversy mixed in to boot).
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we → have → controversy
Things will not get any easier for the Wolverines, as their next game will be on Sept. 12 when they welcome the No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners to the Big House.
asserted
they → get → House
