Michigan secured a dramatic 13-12 win over Western Michigan on Saturday night after officials controversially placed one second back on the clock, giving quarterback Bryce Underwood a second chance at a Hail Mary that he had appeared to miss as time expired. Replay review determined a Western Michigan player had made contact with the ball while airborne from an out-of-bounds position with one second remaining, stopping the clock despite broadcast footage showing triple zeroes, a decision that left Western Michigan players, fans and commentators bewildered and denied the Broncos what would have been a historic upset.

Given the extra play, Underwood threw a second Hail Mary that receiver J.J. Buchanan caught for a 47-yard, game-winning touchdown. The Big Ten Conference issued a detailed statement defending the ruling, citing synchronised broadcast cameras and NCAA rule 4-2-3-a on out-of-bounds contact, while Mid-American Conference commissioner Dr Jon Steinbrecher confirmed the league had sought and received clarification from the Big Ten, ultimately accepting the explanation and congratulating both teams. The win came as Michigan sought a clean start following the Sherrone Moore coaching scandal that overshadowed the programme in the previous season.