09/06/26 06:42:00
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09/06 00:17 CDT No. 16 Michigan escapes an 'epic loss' thanks to a disputed
replay and a second-chance Hail Mary
No. 16 Michigan escapes an 'epic loss' thanks to a disputed replay and a
second-chance Hail Mary
By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) --- Bryce Underwood watched his pass sail out of bounds,
and he thought he knew what that meant for No. 16 Michigan.
"I definitely thought the game was over because there were zeroes on the
clock," he said.
So did Western Michigan. So did a lot of people watching.
Given a second chance by a disputed replay decision, Underwood and the
Wolverines took advantage. JJ Buchanan pulled in Underwood's 47-yard,
second-chance miracle heave for a game-ending, game-winning touchdown, and
Michigan escaped with a 13-12 win over the Broncos on Saturday night in coach
Kyle Whittingham's debut.
On what seemed to be the final play of the game, Underwood chucked a Hail Mary
pass that sailed beyond the end zone and into the arms of a Broncos defender.
TV replays appeared to show the clock hitting zero with the ball still in the
air, but officials ruled there was a second still to play.
The Big Ten stood by the review in a statement released two hours after the
game, when it also published a recording of the replay as it was reviewed by
the officials that showed the game clock at 1 second when the ball was touched
by WMU's Micah Davis.
"It was determined Western Michigan No. 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," the conference said, citing rule that stops the
clock on such contact.
Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said the conference and
school contacted the Big Ten office, seeking clarification on the review and
was provided with an explanation along with video and audio that confirmed it.
Steinbrecher thanked the Big Ten for its prompt response.
The call gave Michigan new life.
"We were flirting with disaster, and that would've been an epic loss,"
Whittingham said.
Indeed, Michigan fans were already having flashbacks to a season-opening loss
to Appalachian State in 2007, when the Wolverines faltered as 33-point
favorites. They were projected to win by 27 1/2 points over the Broncos but had
to experience momentarily watching WMU celebrate the victory at Michigan
Stadium before the replay decision made the winning score possible.
Michigan fans stormed the field after the win, but the team was hardly in the
mood for a party.
"Sick to my stomach is the way I explain my feelings about that game,"
defensive end Dom Nichols said.
Whittingham said he thought there was a second left on the clock, while Broncos
coach Lance Taylor said he hadn't seen a replay before speaking to reporters.
Underwood took advantage of another chance to win the game, and redeem himself
from a poor performance, with Buchanan leaping to snag the football and coming
down with it in the end zone.
"We practiced it three or four times over the last month," said Underwood, who
added it was "a blessing" to have another second put back on the clock.
Whittingham was hired to stabilize a program reeling after the firing and
arrest of Sherrone Moore, who held the job for just two seasons following Jim
Harbaugh's tenure that included a 2023 national title along with a spying
scandal and NCAA sanctions for recruiting violations.
There hasn't been much drama off the field, but this was hardly an encouraging
start on it.
"That was a moment we don't really want to be living," Nichols said.
Michigan will have to improve quickly to compete next week with No. 10 Oklahoma
at home.
"If we don't play a lot better, it's not going to be pretty," Whittingham said.
___
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