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.
| Signal | Value | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Correction rate | 0.004 | 0.4 |
| Uncertainty density | 0.090 | 0.25 |
| Assertive mismatch rate | 0.000 | 0.35 |