The reason behind Michigan’s decisive extra second in controversial win over Western Michigan

The Big Ten claimed that Michigan was allowed an ultimately decisive extra second in its Saturday night win over Western Michigan because a defender touched the ball with a second left on the stadium clock on the Wolverines’ initial hail mary attempt.

In a late-night statement following the hugely controversial ending that saw JJ Buchanan catch a 47-yard pass from Bryce Underwood to secure a 13-12 win over Western Michigan, the conference released the video reviewed by replay officials, as well as the audio of them discussing the decision alongside a statement.

“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,” the statement read. “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.”

Michigan wide receiver JJ Buchanan catches for a touchdown against Western Michigan to win the game 13-12 as time expires during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Surprisingly, MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher accepted the explanation in an ensuing statement.

“I commend Western Michigan for an outstanding effort and a well-played game, and I offer my congratulations to Michigan,” Steinbrecher said. “I also appreciate the collaborative efforts of the Big Ten office and its prompt response in reviewing the play and providing the requested clarification.”

Though the stadium clock does have a second on it in the video provided, the clock on NBC’s broadcast was at zeroes when Underwood’s first attempt to win the game failed.

The referees themselves were not made available to reporters on-site in Ann Arbor.

Michigan wide receiver JJ Buchanan (6) catches a touchdown against Western Michigan to win the game 13-12 as time expires during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

“We can’t control whether there was a second left on the clock or not,” Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor told reporters. “We went out the first time, we defended perfectly the Hail Mary situation. I know when I looked up at the clock it was past zeroes before we touched it. I knew they’d review it. I wasn’t worried about our guys defending it the second time.”

The entire watching world, along with 110,000-plus at Michigan Stadium, believed the Wolverines to have suffered what would have been one of the worst losses in their history.

Instead, they were handed a lifeline which they used to rescue the game and, possibly, whatever chances at a College Football Playoff berth there are for a team that played wildly poor and underwhelming football all night on Saturday.

Indeed, the 1-0 record does not belie the way Michigan looked so offensively inept all night, particularly with Oklahoma set to visit the Big House next week.