A controversial ending to Kyle Whittingham and Michigan's season-opening game against Western Michigan has drawn criticism toward the Big Ten over how things played out. With nine seconds left on the game clock, Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood heaved the football from near midfield toward the end zone, hoping a teammate would catch it. However, Western Michigan's defense swarmed, and a defender who was out of bounds touched the ball as it went toward the back of the end zone.
Broncos players began celebrating and rushing onto the field after what they thought was an upset win, but it was short-lived. The referees told everyone to leave the field as that play was under further review. After officials spoke with the head coaches, a referee returned to reveal that upon review, there was one second left on the clock.
More news: College Football Fans Are Divided Over Jeremiah Smith-Malachi Toney Debate With that, Michigan returned to the field with one second remaining and one more chance to score a game-winning touchdown. And Underwood delivered this time, with an even deeper throw, which teammate JJ hauled in for the game-winner. Michigan escaped with a thrilling, yet controversial victory, 13-12.
During television and streaming coverage, NBC's Terry McAulay weighed in on a replay of the controversial play, which the referees reviewed and said there was one second remaining in the game. "The ball isn't even close to touching a player when it goes to zero. ... Their Hawk-Eye system apparently had a different sync. ...
I don't see how that happened, assuming our clock is correct. ... The ball is clearly still in the air when the clock goes to zero," McAulay said in reviewing the highlight. The Big Ten later defended the ruling, saying Western Michigan safety Micah Davis started his jump from an established out-of-bounds position and touched the ball with one second remaining.
The conference said replay officials used a direct view of the stadium clock to make the determination and that its replay cameras had been synchronized before the game. Fans sounded off in the comments on Awful Announcing's X post and the Big Ten Conference's statement post (below), calling out the referees and Big Ten over the controversial call and final result. "Every single official who was in on that overturn ruling should NEVER EVER work any football game again.
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