No. 16 Michigan avoided a major upset on Saturday, narrowly defeating Western Michigan 13-12 after a dramatic, last-second touchdown pass. With the game on the line, Bryce Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan for a 47-yard score to secure the victory. The play only occurred after officials reviewed the final seconds, ruling that one second remained on the clock despite Western Michigan players already celebrating what they believed was a game-ending stop.
Television replays indicated time had expired before the ball reached a defender’s hands, yet the officiating crew stood by their decision to grant the Wolverines a final play. Head coach Kyle Whittingham, who was making his debut, noted after the game, “I was pretty sure there was 1 second left.” Describing the finish as “one for the history books,” Whittingham took full responsibility for the team’s struggles, stating, “This isn’t on Bryce Underwood; it’s on me.”
The Wolverines entered the matchup as 27 1/2-point favorites, but the Broncos nearly secured their first-ever victory against an Associated Press top-20 opponent. Western Michigan relied on a disciplined defensive effort, forcing three turnovers—including a costly fumble by Underwood at his own 31-yard line with 1:50 remaining—and converting four field goals by Dieter Kelly. Kelly, a transfer from the College of San Mateo, had given the Broncos a 12-7 lead earlier in the fourth quarter following a lengthy 20-play drive.
Underwood endured a difficult outing, struggling with turnovers and near-interceptions throughout the night. Addressing the locker room atmosphere, Whittingham remarked, “There was not hooting and hollering in the locker room because we have a lot of work to do.” The report also notes that when the Wolverines were 33-point favorites, western Michigan was threatening to hand Michigan perhaps its biggest upset since a season-opening loss to Appalachian State in 2007. The report also notes that WMU went ahead for the first time early in the fourth quarter on Dieter Kelly’s 39-yard field goal that capped a 20-play drive that took 13:40 off the clock.
Match Outlook and Team Context
- Western Michigan: The reigning Mid-American Conference champions successfully retained their core roster despite the transfer portal and remain strong contenders to repeat their title.
- Michigan: While Underwood opened the game with a scoring drive, his performance was marked by inconsistency and multiple errors.
- Western Michigan Upcoming: The Broncos are set to host Monmouth next Saturday.
- Michigan Upcoming: The Wolverines will host No. 10 Oklahoma next Saturday.
