Western Michigan nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent memory on Saturday night. The Broncos held a 12-7 lead late into the fourth quarter and forced three turnovers against a Michigan squad favored by 27.5 points coming into the game. Wolverines QB Bryce Underwood threw a Hail Mary that sailed incomplete as the clock hit zero, and Western Michigan players started celebrating what would have been a historic win.
But officials quickly reviewed the play and put one second back on the clock, rruling that WMU's Micah Davis, who was out of bounds, had touched the ball with one second remaining. Underwood then launched another Hail Mary, and JJ Buchanan hauled it in for a 47-yard touchdown, giving Michigan the win. Wolverines fans stormed the field, the Broncos left in devastating defeat, and the play has come under scrutiny ever since.
That didn't stop Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor from issuing a strong statement after the game. "They proved tonight that we can play with anybody in the country," Taylor said. "Game 1 to come to the Big House ... and to me, out-physical [Michigan] for 60 minutes is exciting." More news: Lane Kiffin Breaks Silence on LSU’s Ex-NFL Players Bombshell It was a controversial way for Michigan's new head coach, Kyle Whittingham, to kick off his debut.
And given how last season ended with Sherrone Moore, controversy is the last thing this program needs right now. Still, a win is a win, and it might light enough of a fire under the Wolverines to clean things up going forward — especially with the schedule only getting tougher. Next week, Michigan hosts Oklahoma, fresh off a 51-0 blowout of UTEP, before Big Ten matchups against Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State, and Indiana.
More news: Miami’s Malachi Toney Makes Program History in Rout of Stanford More news: Bill Belichick’s Son Faces Alarming Allegations in Bombshell UNC Investigation As for Western Michigan, it's a brutal way to start the year, but there's a silver lining: the Broncos nearly beat a team some have penciled in for the College Football Playoff. And unlike Michigan, Western Michigan faces a far more manageable schedule going forward, hosting Monmouth next week before games against Rice, Boise State, and Buffalo.
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