{"id":1047027,"date":"2026-09-06T14:17:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T14:17:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1047027\/"},"modified":"2026-09-06T14:17:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T14:17:17","slug":"michigans-last-gasp-miracle-by-bryce-underwood-saves-whittingham-debut-from-disaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1047027\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan\u2019s last-gasp miracle by Bryce Underwood saves Whittingham debut from disaster"},"content":{"rendered":"

ANN ARBOR, Mich. \u2014 A fraction of a second from a devastating loss, Michigan<\/a> kicked off the Kyle Whittingham era with an improbable victory for the ages.<\/p>\n

Quarterback Bryce Underwood connected on a 47-yard Hail Mary to JJ Buchanan to give No. 16 Michigan a 13-12 victory against Western Michigan, sending fans spilling out of the stands for an impromptu dance party Saturday night inside Michigan Stadium.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were flirting with disaster,\u201d Whittingham said. \u201cThat would have been an epic loss. They\u2019ll talk about this game for years, I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

The play only happened<\/a> because officials controversially ruled that Underwood\u2019s first attempt at a Hail Mary sailed out of the end zone before time expired. Western Michigan players rushed the field in celebration, only to be sent back to the sideline after officials ruled that Michigan had 1 second remaining.<\/p>\n

What in the world just happened at Michigan?<\/p>\n

Austin Meek<\/p>\n

The Big Ten early Sunday morning released a statement and video footage and audio explaining the call.<\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing video review, it was determined Western Michigan\u2019s #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, was used to determine the final ruling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

A statement regarding the results of tonight\u2019s game between Michigan and Western Michigan. pic.twitter.com\/DzJVN2ZLTc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Big Ten Conference (@bigten) September 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Mid-American commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said he contacted the Big Ten office and also received the explanation.<\/p>\n

Whittingham said he thought time was remaining when he watched Underwood\u2019s first Hail Mary in real time. Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor saw the opposite.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I looked up at the clock, it was past zeroes before we touched it,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cI knew they would review it. It was the last play of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay questioned the decision to put a second back on the clock on the TV broadcast, and Western Michigan president Russ Kavalhuna said the ending should be reviewed.<\/p>\n

Underwood\u2019s Hail Mary rescued Michigan from a nightmarish start in Whittingham\u2019s first game as coach. After driving for a touchdown on their opening drive, the Wolverines didn\u2019t score again until Buchanan snagged Underwood\u2019s pass amid a crowd of defenders in the end zone.<\/p>\n

Before Underwood dropped back to his final heave, Michigan seemed headed for certain defeat. The Wolverines looked out of sorts for most of the night, and Whittingham was visibly displeased with their performance.<\/p>\n

Michigan had three turnovers, including a fumble by Underwood with 1:50 remaining when the Wolverines were trying to drive for a go-ahead field goal.<\/p>\n

Western Michigan won the rushing battle and dominated time of possession, controlling the ball for more than 40 minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know we\u2019re not going to win a lot of ballgames this year if we don\u2019t fix some things and fix them right away,\u201d Whittingham said.<\/p>\n

Before the miracle \u2014 a brutal game for Underwood<\/p>\n

All the talk about Underwood\u2019s offseason progress, his improved mechanics and consistency in camp, didn\u2019t translate on the field. If anything, Underwood looked shakier than he did as a freshman starter last season.<\/p>\n

Underwood went 12-of-22 passing for 170 yards and gifted Western Michigan 3 points at the end of the first half. His accuracy and decision-making were suspect once again. His best play for most of the night was a fumbled snap on Michigan\u2019s opening drive that he recovered and threw to Buchanan, who made a one-handed grab of a high pass.<\/p>\n

The interception at the end of the first half was inexcusable. Michigan was 80 yards from the end zone with 10 seconds remaining and hadn\u2019t moved the ball at all since its first drive. Underwood threw an out route to the sideline that was intercepted and nearly returned for a touchdown. The play gave Western Michigan a field goal as time expired, and those 3 points loomed large as Western Michigan took a 9-7 lead in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

Underwood wasn\u2019t Michigan\u2019s only problem, but his struggles were impossible to ignore. Michigan simply can\u2019t win in the Big Ten without better quarterback play.<\/p>\n

Beck\u2019s debut fizzles<\/p>\n

Offensive coordinator Jason Beck came to Michigan with a reputation for offensive turnarounds. This Michigan offense looked nothing like Beck\u2019s offenses at Utah and New Mexico that finished No. 2 in the FBS in rushing.<\/p>\n

If nothing else, Michigan appeared to have the personnel to run the ball effectively. That didn\u2019t happen Saturday, as the Wolverines finished with 106 rushing yards on 25 carries, an average of 4.2 yards per rush.<\/p>\n

Running back Jordan Marshall had just 44 yards on 11 carries, and five-star freshman Savion Hiter wasn\u2019t a factor. Michigan\u2019s offensive line, a unit that was expected to be a strength, generated little push against Western Michigan\u2019s defensive front.<\/p>\n

Aside from the opening drive, when Michigan cruised 75 yards for a touchdown, and the game-winning heave, the offense was moribund. Even when the Wolverines were lacking in offensive firepower last season, they knew they could run the ball. That wasn\u2019t the case Saturday.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next?<\/p>\n

Only Michigan\u2019s highly anticipated showdown against Oklahoma. But taking nothing away from Western Michigan, it\u2019s hard to imagine the Wolverines having success against Oklahoma\u2019s defense if they couldn\u2019t move the ball against the Broncos.<\/p>\n

The expectation for this season was that Michigan would be competitive against every team on the schedule, including Big Ten heavyweights Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana. Openers can be deceiving, and the Wolverines might not be as bad as they looked Saturday. There\u2019s always the chance Saturday\u2019s unlikely resurrection sparks a big step forward. While the celebration continues in Ann Arbor, there remain all sorts of uncomfortable questions for Whittingham, who was supposed to be the steady hand Michigan needed.<\/p>\n