Michigan Escapes Western Michigan on Hail Mary as Refs, Underwood Draw Scrutiny in Week 1 Opener

Michigan opened the Kyle Whittingham era with a 13-12 win over Western Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Michigan Stadium — but the victory arrived only after a disputed officiating call kept the Wolverines’ final drive alive long enough for a game-ending Hail Mary.

Utah transfer receiver JJ Buchanan provided the finish, hauling in Michigan’s second Hail Mary attempt as time expired. The 47-yard touchdown catch, a one-handed snag broadcast nationally on NBC — a property of Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA), whose shares closed at $26.49 on the latest session, down 0.64% from a prior close of $26.66 with a market capitalization near $94.38 billion — capped a six-catch, 126-yard debut in maize and blue.

The play that decided it

The game’s most debated moment came before the score, when a controversial ruling by the officials extended Michigan’s last possession. The decision is likely to fuel discussion for the remainder of the season and drew immediate reaction from fans and columnists alike, with some framing the sequence as payback for past Michigan fortunes.

Other winners in Ann Arbor

Defensive end Dom Nichols also made a strong first impression. Filling a rotation that lost Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham to the NFL draft, Nichols stuffed a Broncos run on Western Michigan’s second drive, then sacked quarterback Broc Lowry to force a punt. He finished the first half with five tackles, 1½ sacks and 2½ tackles for loss, and ended the day with nine total tackles — a potential bookend alongside 2025 All-American John Henry Daley once Daley returns to full health.

The losers

The officiating crew tops the list, with the late ruling certain to be replayed and re-litigated for years. Quarterback Bryce Underwood was also flagged as a loser of the week, as Michigan’s offense sputtered for most of the afternoon and needed a desperation heave to avoid an opening-week upset against a Mid-American Conference opponent.

Western Michigan, meanwhile, was inches from one of the biggest wins in program history, leading 12-6 before the final play.

What to watch

• Any official reviews or league commentary regarding the late-game officiating decision.
• Michigan’s offensive adjustments under Whittingham and offensive coordinator in Week 2, given the scoring total against an MAC opponent.
• Nichols’ usage alongside John Henry Daley as the defensive line rotation rounds into form.
• Upcoming Big Ten weekly availability reports and Whittingham’s next press conference for updates on Underwood’s role.

Source: original release