Michigan football opened the 2026 season with a finish destined for the program's permanent highlight reel — and a near-catastrophe that raised uncomfortable questions about a team carrying championship ambitions. In Kyle Whittingham's debut as head coach, No. 16 Michigan escaped Western Michigan, 13-12, when quarterback Bryce Underwood connected with J.J. Buchanan on a 47-yard Hail Mary touchdown on a replay-extended final snap Saturday night at Michigan Stadium.
The Wolverines entered as 27.5-point favorites against a Mid-American Conference program that has never beaten a top-20 team in the AP poll. Instead, they needed a controversial clock review, a second-chance heave and a leaping end-zone grab to avoid what would have ranked among the biggest upsets in modern college football — a result immediately compared to Michigan's 2007 loss to Appalachian State, when the Wolverines were 33-point favorites.
Inside the Final Play: A Hail Mary, a Review and a Second Chance
The wildest finish of college football's opening weekend unfolded in a matter of chaotic minutes. Underwood's first Hail Mary sailed out of bounds as the clock hit zero, sending Western Michigan players streaming onto the field to celebrate what they believed was a historic upset over a Big Ten powerhouse. Then officials halted the celebration and went to review, determining that Broncos defender Micah Davis had touched the ball with one second still remaining.
"I definitely thought the game was over because there were zeroes on the clock," Underwood said afterward.
Granted an unlikely second snap, Underwood heaved another deep ball toward the end zone, where Buchanan out-leaped the coverage and came down with the winning touchdown. "One for the history books right here," Whittingham said.
The Big Ten stood by the ruling hours later, releasing replay audio that showed the game clock frozen at one second when Davis made contact with the football, and noting that the Western Michigan defender had started his jump from an out-of-bounds position.
Kyle Whittingham's Debut: A Win That Felt Like a Warning
The victory gave Whittingham a winning start to his Michigan tenure, but it also delivered a blunt reality check about the roster he inherited. Michigan's offense produced a single touchdown through the first three quarters, committed three turnovers, and allowed a 27.5-point underdog to push the game to the final snap before a home crowd that arrived expecting a routine blowout.
Western Michigan executed the disciplined underdog game plan to near-perfection: the Broncos kicked four field goals, controlled field position and repeatedly forced mistakes. A junior-college transfer kicker drilled his fourth field goal with 35 seconds remaining, forcing Michigan to score a touchdown just to win — which the Wolverines managed in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.
Whittingham declined to pin the sloppy showing on his young quarterback, instead absorbing the blame himself. "This isn't on Bryce Underwood," Whittingham said. "It's on me."
Bryce Underwood's Night: Heroics and Plenty of Growing Pains
Underwood's final stat line — 170 passing yards and 47 rushing yards — only hints at the rollercoaster nature of his performance. The quarterback opened the game by leading a touchdown drive and closed it with the throw of his young career. In between, he committed a late fumble and made a series of mistakes that nearly handed Western Michigan the program's signature victory.
His connection with Buchanan, who finished with 126 receiving yards, proved decisive when it mattered most. But the near-disaster also underscored how heavily Michigan's 2026 ceiling depends on Underwood's consistency while adjusting to a new coaching staff and scheme.
What the Near-Upset Reveals About Michigan Football
For a program with Big Ten title and College Football Playoff aspirations, escaping a MAC opponent by a single point is a caution flag rather than a statement win. The offensive line struggled to establish a rhythm, the running game was inconsistent, and the defense bent repeatedly against a team Michigan was expected to overwhelm from the opening kickoff.
Yet the Wolverines still found a way to win a game they might easily have lost — a trait that often separates good teams from great ones. The Hail Mary finish, however controversial, handed Whittingham a signature early moment, a defining teaching tape for the week ahead, and a reminder that no result can be taken for granted.
What's Next: No. 10 Oklahoma Awaits
There is no soft landing for Michigan after the scare. The Wolverines host No. 10 Oklahoma on Saturday in a marquee non-conference matchup that will immediately reveal whether the opener was an aberration or an omen. For Western Michigan, the defending MAC champion Broncos return home to host Monmouth, emboldened after pushing a top-20 opponent to the brink and proving they remain a serious threat to repeat in their conference.
The Bottom Line: Key Takeaways
- Michigan survived Western Michigan 13-12 on a 47-yard Hail Mary from Bryce Underwood to J.J. Buchanan in Kyle Whittingham's head-coaching debut.
- Officials ruled one second remained after the initial final play, and the Big Ten later stood by the review with released replay audio.
- The Wolverines were 27.5-point favorites but managed one touchdown through three quarters and committed three turnovers.
- Whittingham took responsibility for the sloppy performance, defending his quarterback: "This isn't on Bryce Underwood. It's on me."
- Michigan hosts No. 10 Oklahoma next, a fast test of whether the Wolverines are ready to contend in the Big Ten.
