There was 0:00 left on the NBC broadcast clock with Western Michigan ahead of Michigan 12-6. However, a second was added back onto the clock for another play. Then, a Bryce Underwood Hail Mary was converted and UM won the debut game of the Kyle Whittingham era in field storming fashion.
The First 59:41 Minutes
Michigan scored a touchdown on their opening drive of the Kyle Whittingham era. From there, Bryce Underwood and the Wolverines were outplayed by Western Michigan.
After the opening drive, Michigan possessed the ball in just 14 minutes and 32 seconds compared to WMU’s 40:08. Also, Western Michigan outgained the Wolverines 221 yards to 201, outscored UM 12-to-6, was better disciplined penalty-wise, and won the turnover battle.
To put even more emphasis on how much Western Michigan controlled this game, the Broncos went on a 20-play, 13:40 field goal drive spanning the 3rd and 4th quarters. With all that said, Coach Lance Taylor and his group will head back to Kalamazoo 0-1.
Lastly, with 38 seconds left, Western Michigan had a 4th & 4 from the Michigan 14-yard line. Taylor and the Broncos elected to kick a field goal to increase their lead from 9-7 to 12-7. Had they gone for it on fourth down and converted, the game was over. Worst case scenario, the Wolverines begin from their own 14-yard line needing a field goal to win the game (on their kicker’s first attempt while wearing a winged helmet).
The mind-blowing, controversial Western Michigan-Michigan finish.
Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge, and rules analyst Terry McAulay have the commentary on the stunning scene for NBC. 🏈🦓🎙️ pic.twitter.com/n9YE3OpXde
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 6, 2026
The Last 19 Seconds Of Game Time
Down five points, Michigan needed 75 yards for a game-winning touchdown in 19 seconds. On 3rd & 10, Bryce Underwood converted a 28-yard pass to JJ Buchanan. The Wolverines scrambled to the line of scrimmage and spiked the ball with 8 seconds remaining (how it took 3 seconds to spike a ball in college football is something NBC should look into).
On the ensuing play, Underwood worked his way through the pocket and basically launched the ball through the end zone. The final play was reviewed, just like any other game, and the Big Ten referees determined that #18 on WMU stepped out of bounds, then jumped up and touched the football before anybody else.
Safety, Micah Davis, wears No. 18 for the Broncos defense. Davis, a former Wolverine for the 2024 National Championship team, had one heck of a game with three tackles (2 solo) and two pass break-ups.
However, Davis’ play allowed Michigan to get one more crack at the end zone. On the final play, Underwood was pursued, he frantically stepped back in the pocket and chucked up a prayer. That prayer was caught by 6-foot-7 Utah transfer, Buchanan for the game-winning touchdown.
Usually when there’s a bad call, there’s a section of fans that still try to argue it was good
They argue everything you can think of, no matter how bad it was
Tonight sentiment is basically unanimous that Western Michigan got hosed
It was THAT bad pic.twitter.com/MbivWRdrls
— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) September 6, 2026
The Aftermath
Immediately after the game, Taylor surprisingly took the high road and told the media that MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher contacted the Big Ten seeking “clarification regarding the replay review and the placement of time back on the game clock.” Even the Western Michigan school President took the podium to provide statements post game. The internet already beat Taylor and Steinbrecher to the punch.
Various topics from the Michigan vs Western Michigan game were trending on X after its conclusion. Users were posting screen recordings from the NBC broadcast that clearly had 0:00 left on the game clock. Additionally, clips of missed penalties (facemask and running into the punter) boiled to the surface.
Jokes were also flying left and right about how the Western Michigan athletic department should take the Big Ten to a local Kalamazoo court because of all the lawsuits we are seeing in college athletics nowadays.
thats okay. By tomorrow, we’ll have found a judge in kalamazoo who will do the right thing
— Matt Brown (@MattBrownEP) September 6, 2026
Shortly before midnight CT, the Big Ten released a statement regarding the game result, replay review, and clock situation. The post also provided unprecedented access to College Football replay reviews.
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
— MACtion (@MACSports) September 6, 2026
Handicapping Michigan’s Outlook
Coming out of Saturday night’s game, the optics are not good for Michigan. The only positives for the Wolverines’ offense were the bookend drives. Buchanan passes the eye test as the go-to target after catching six passes for 126 yards and a touchdown.
With that said, there is a lot to fix and Whittingham said as much. Underwood was a rough watch. His mechanics, specifically his lower half, remain out of sorts. Underwood was responsible for a fumble inside Michigan’s own 20-yard line with under two minutes of game time remaining. He also threw an interception and another ball that was intercepted was called back.
Underwood may not even be the offense’s biggest issue. Michigan’s offensive line flat out did not play well. We know Jordan Marshall is a good running back and freshman Savion Hiter was also a 5-star. The Wolverines ran for just 104 yards on 25 carries (4.2 YPC).
104 rushing yards would’ve been the second-worst performance compared to the 13 games the Wolverines played in 2025. Michigan could not establish their physical presence at the line of scrimmage, and it had them playing on their back foot all game. As a result, the defense was on the field for over 40 minutes of game time.
Far less of the blame lands on the defense, which at times showcased stellar individual performances and plays. Dom Nichols was dominant for the Wolverines on the defensive line (9 tackles, 4 solo, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks) and Troy Bowles was everywhere (12 tackles, 7 solo, 2 TFL).
The bottom line after their Week 1 performance is that everybody should fade Michigan and pounce on Oklahoma -4 until the Wolverines offense shows improvements. Moving forward, with more offensive time of possession the defense won’t be vulnerable to allowing 13+ minute drives. That begins with the O-Line and quarterback.
Handicapping Western Michigan’s Outlook
Starting with the only negative: you win games by scoring touchdowns, you kick field goals to not lose.
Western Michigan’s defense created takeaways and had Michigan’s offense frustrated all night. The Broncos won at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball throughout the game. The Broncos were contempt to rush for three yards and a cloud of dust (46 attempts, 132 yards, 2.9 YPC). And as previously mentioned, WMU kept Michigan from hitting the home run on the ground.
QB Broc Lowry, the 2025 MAC Player of the Year, was efficient through the air (15/21, 89 yards). At 5-foot-11, 225 pounds, RB Jalen Buckley was an athletic bowling ball. Against similar strength of competition that impressive offensive line will create bigger holes than he had Saturday night.
The takeaway from Western Michigan’s Week 1 performance in front of +110,000 at the Big House is that Coach Taylor has the Broncos primed to repeat as MAC Champions. WMU plays Monmouth and Rice in their next two games. The matchup for fans and bettors to circle is on September 26th, at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, against Boise State.
What This Means For College Football
G6 contenders Western Michigan and Boise State went on the road and pushed College Football Playoff contenders to the absolute brink, and that is a great thing for college football’s overall health. These Week 1 performances should prove to fans and pundits that these programs, teams, coaches, and players belong. The G6 should always have a spot reserved in the CFP.
