No. 16 Michigan narrowly escaped an upset on Saturday night, defeating Western Michigan 13-12 thanks to a dramatic 47-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Underwood to JJ Buchanan as time expired. The Wolverines, who entered the game as 27.5-point favorites in coach Kyle Whittingham’s debut, appeared to have lost when Underwood’s initial Hail Mary attempt sailed out of bounds with the clock at zero.
However, the game took a turn when officials initiated a review despite Western Michigan players already celebrating on the field. Replays indicated the clock had expired before the ball reached a defender’s hands, yet officials ruled one second remained. Whittingham later remarked, “I was pretty sure there was 1 second left,” and described the finish as “one for the history books.”
Western Michigan had positioned itself for a historic upset, relying on four field goals from Dieter Kelly and a defense that forced three turnovers, including a late fumble by Underwood. The Broncos took their first lead early in the fourth quarter following a 20-play, 13:40-minute drive capped by a 39-yard field goal. Kelly, a junior-college transfer from the College of San Mateo, added another field goal with 35 seconds remaining to put the pressure on Michigan.
Despite the win, Whittingham emphasized that the team has significant improvements to make, noting there was no celebration in the locker room. He took personal responsibility for the team’s struggles, stating, “This isn’t on Bryce Underwood. It’s on me.”
Match Context and Outlook
- Western Michigan: As defending MAC champions, the team successfully retained key talent and remains a strong contender to repeat their success.
- Michigan: While Underwood opened and closed the game with strong touchdown drives, he struggled with turnovers and inconsistencies throughout the match.
- Western Michigan Schedule: The Broncos are set to host Monmouth this coming Saturday.
- Michigan Schedule: The Wolverines will host No. 10 Oklahoma this coming Saturday.
Western Michigan, a program that has competed in the Mid-American Conference since 1962, remains in search of its first victory against an opponent ranked in the top 20 of the Associated Press poll. The report also notes that the Wolverines were 27 1/2-point favorites in coach Kyle Whittingham’s debut. The report also notes that and Buchanan leaped to snag it and came down with it in the end zone, underwood heaved another throw.
Important Details
- The report also notes that but made a lot of mistakes in between, michigan: Underwood started strong with a touchdown drive and finished it well.
