Michigan escapes upset on Hail Mary touchdown

No. 16 Michigan survived a dramatic upset bid from Western Michigan on Saturday night, securing a 13-12 victory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, thanks to a last-second Hail Mary touchdown. The win came in the head coaching debut of Kyle Whittingham, whose team was favored by 27 points but was pushed to the brink by the Broncos. The game's decisive moment unfolded in the final seconds. With Michigan trailing 12-7 and the clock expiring, quarterback Bryce Underwood launched a Hail Mary pass that sailed out of bounds. Western Michigan players began celebrating what they believed was a historic upset. However, officials initiated a review and determined that one second remained on the game clock. On the subsequent play, Underwood heaved a 47-yard pass that wide receiver JJ Buchanan caught in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. "I was pretty sure there was 1 second left," Whittingham said after the game. He later added, "One for the history books right here." The victory prevented what would have been one of the biggest upsets in college football history, drawing comparisons to Michigan's 2007 season-opening loss to Appalachian State, when the Wolverines were 33-point favorites.