Michigan’s 13-12 escape over Western Michigan ended with more than a Hail Mary and a field storming. It also ended with a replay argument that kept rolling after the final whistle.
The Wolverines appeared to be done when the first deep shot from Bryce Underwood drifted out of the end zone and NBC’s clock showed zero while the ball was still airborne. But officials put one second back on the clock, and Underwood got another chance. This time, JJ Buchanan came down with it, and Michigan walked away with the 13-12 win as students rushed the field.
That’s where the debate really took off. Front Office Sports posted video of a Big Ten replay worker moving through the celebration with a tablet, showing fans a frame that displayed 0:01. The clip lasted just 10 seconds, but it was enough to add fuel to a night that already had people questioning the timing.
Western Michigan didn’t waste time reacting. The program’s account posted, “What clock is that?”
The skepticism spread fast. One person wrote, “So the clocks and analysts we see on TV are not to be trusted.
Mere illusions. We should instead believe the hidden clock and magicians behind the curtain,”
The Big Ten, though, said the ruling was supported by the replay process. In a statement, the conference explained:
“Following video review, it was determined Western Michigan’s #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. As shown in the provided video of what was viewed during the replay process, a side-by-side view of the play and the game clock, using a direct shot of the game clock in the stadium, was used to determine the final ruling.“
Lance Taylor said he saw zeros first and expected a review. Underwood said he had the same reaction from his side of the field.
“When I see zeroes on the clock, I feel like we lost the game,” the Wolverines quarterback said.
Then the one second appeared, and Underwood told his receivers to give them a chance. Buchanan did exactly that.
Afterward, Whittingham didn’t exactly sound like a man eager to celebrate the ending. “This game will go down in Michigan history. I don’t know if it’s in a positive way.”
The result stands as a 13-12 Michigan win. The celebration belonged to the Wolverines on the field, but the first one, at least for a moment, seemed to belong to Western Michigan.
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