Hail Mary Heroics: Buchanan’s Catch Caps Wild Michigan Debut for Whittingham

Michigan opened the Kyle Whittingham era in the most dramatic fashion imaginable, escaping with a 13-12 victory over Western Michigan on a Hail Mary as time expired Saturday, Sept. 5, at Michigan Stadium.

The game-winning play went to wide receiver JJ Buchanan, a Utah transfer whom Michigan’s new coaching staff had billed as a difference-maker. After Michigan’s first Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete amid a controversial officiating decision that kept the drive alive, Buchanan delivered on the second try, hauling in a 47-yard touchdown catch with zeroes on the clock. It was the signature moment in a debut that saw him record six catches for 126 yards.

Nichols Anchors the Defense

On the other side of the ball, defensive end Dom Nichols emerged as the next name in Michigan’s long line of productive edge rushers, following the NFL draft departures of Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham. Nichols stuffed a Broncos run on Western’s second drive and later sacked quarterback Broc Lowry to force a punt.

His first half alone featured five total tackles, 1½ sacks and 2½ tackles for loss. He finished with nine total tackles, giving Michigan another promising piece to pair alongside 2025 All-American John Henry Daley once Daley returns to full health.

Officiating Under Fire

Not everyone exited Ann Arbor as a winner. The game’s officiating crew drew immediate scrutiny for the ruling that preserved Michigan’s final drive after the clock had apparently run out — a decision likely to be debated for years. Sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood also had a difficult outing in the narrow win, per the game coverage.

The game aired nationally on NBC, the broadcast property of Comcast (CMCSA), whose shares closed at $26.49 on the day, down 0.64% from the prior close of $26.66. Comcast carries a market capitalization of roughly $94.4 billion in the telecom services sector.

For Whittingham, the result marks a winning start to his tenure in Ann Arbor, though the manner of the victory — an improbable heave on the final play of a one-point game against a MAC opponent — raises early questions about Michigan’s offensive consistency heading deeper into the season.

What to watch

• Any league review or commentary regarding the end-of-game officiating ruling.
• Michigan’s Week 2 matchup for signs of offensive adjustment under Whittingham’s staff.
• Buchanan’s usage going forward after his 126-yard debut.
• John Henry Daley’s health status and his return to the defensive line rotation.

Source: original release