Michigan football's stunning 13-12 victory over Western Michigan nearly didn't happen.
With 9 seconds left in the game on Saturday, Sept. 5, U-M quarterback Bryce Underwood dropped back rolled left and heaved a Hail Mary from the 47 yard-line that fell incomplete. The clocks on the TV broadcast – and the video boards at the stadium – showed no time left.
After a video review, however, officials determined the ball was touched with 1 second left and restored that on the clock, allowing another play. That play, of course, was Underwood's heave to JJ Buchanan that turned a potentially historic loss into the first victory of the Kyle Whittingham era.
While
officials did not provide a pool report after the game despite requests from reporters, the Big Ten released the following statement.
"Following video review, it was determined Western Michigan's #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. As shown in the provided video of what was viewed during the replay process, a side-by-side view of the play and the game clock, using a direct shot of the game clock in the stadium, in the stadium, was used to determined the final ruling.
A statement regarding the results of tonight's game between Michigan and Western Michigan. pic.twitter.com/DzJVN2ZLTc
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) September 6, 2026
"Eighty-five minutes prior to the game, all broadcast cameras used for the replay system, including the camera on the game clock, are synced using a strobe system to ensure all cameras are aligned.
"Per NCAA Football rule 4-2-3-1, 'A ball not in player control, other than a kick that scores a field goal, is out of bounds when it touches the ground, a player, a game official or anything else that is out-of-bound, or that is on or outside the boundary line' and thus the clock is stopped.
Mid-American Conference statement on Michigan win over WMU
MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher had this to say in a release a few minutes after the Big Ten's statement:
"Upon the conclusion of the Western Michigan-Michigan football game, the Mid-American Conference and Western Michigan contacted the Big Ten office to seek clarification regarding the replay review and the placement of time back on the game clock. The Big Ten explained that the ball touched a player who was out of bounds before the clocked reached 00:00, resulting in one additional play being awarded.
"The Big Ten subsequently provided video and audio of the replay, which confirmed the explanation provided to us.
"I commend Western Michigan for an outstanding effort and a well-played game, and I offer my congratulations to Michigan.
"I also appreciate the collaborative efforts of the Big Ten office and its prompt response in reviewing the play and providing the requested clarification."
Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham weighs in on controversy
"Obviously, the extra second was huge,” Whittingham said. “As I glanced at the clock, I was pretty sure there was 1 second left, but that’s obviously not up to me. But the refs went to replay, they confirmed it and so it gave us one more opportunity.
“That second time around, Bryce [Underwood] threw a perfect ball. … JJ had a phenomenal catch. Doesn’t surprise me, that’s who he is. I see him make contested catches every day in practice and [the] offensive line gave Bryce enough time to launch it. So this game will go down in history — I don’t know if it’s in in a positive way, but it’ll go down in history for certain.”
Bryce Underwood calls it 'a blessing'
"I seen zeroes on the clock, it looked like we lost the game,” Underwood said. “I mean, that’s what it was. Then we had 1 second, thought was to give my guys an opportunity and that’s what I did.
“Excitement [when I saw Buchanan catch it]. We built a lot of trust over the last eight to nine months, so you know just gave him an opportunity and he made a play … a blessing, that’s the only way I can put it, honestly.”
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Big Ten weighs in on call that set up Michigan' football Hail Mary
