Michigan Escapes Western Michigan After Controversial Hail Mary
60 sourcesUpdated Sep 11, 2026
The Mid-American Conference has formally appealed Michigan’s 13-12 victory over Western Michigan, asking the NCAA and College Football Playoff to recognize the Broncos as 12-7 winners for ranking, evaluation and postseason purposes. The dispute began after replay officials restored one second following Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood’s first Hail Mary, which appeared to end with the clock at zero, allowing a second attempt that produced a game-winning touchdown catch by JJ Buchanan. The MAC now says officials improperly relied on a replay-system clock feed rather than the program-feed clock required by protocol and that no additional play should have been awarded. The Big Ten rejected the appeal and continues to support the ruling. Michigan was subsequently dropped from the AP Top 25, while Western Michigan received votes and Michigan’s betting line against Oklahoma shifted sharply against the Wolverines. The appeal reverses the MAC’s initial acceptance of the Big Ten’s explanation.
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against Western Michigan should be a wake-up call, not a reason to celebrate. Underwood bailed them out big time.
That extra second felt like a stretch, but rules are rules - refs made the call and Michigan capitalized.
