Ann Arbor residents got a thrilling start to the 2026 college football season when the University of Michigan Wolverines held off a determined Western Michigan Broncos squad 13‑12. The game, played at Michigan Stadium, turned into a defensive slog, but a controversial clock decision in the final seconds gave the Wolverines the edge.
Early scoring and a defensive battle
Michigan entered the matchup as a 27.5‑point favorite, yet the first half was a low‑scoring affair. Quarterback Bryce Underwood punched a one‑yard touchdown run to give the Wolverines a 7‑6 lead. Western Michigan answered with a field goal, then added another before halftime, leaving the score at 7‑6.
The second half remained quiet until the fourth quarter, when the Broncos kicked a third field goal to take a 9‑7 advantage. Both teams exchanged possessions without scoring, and Michigan appeared poised to attempt a late field goal to retake the lead.
Clock controversy and the final play
With the ball deep in Michigan territory and no timeouts left, Underwood scrambled to the line of scrimmage and spiked the ball, stopping the clock at nine seconds. On the next play, he launched a deep pass that sailed out of the back of the end zone, seemingly giving Western Michigan a game‑winning opportunity.
However, officials called for a review. Video showed the clock hitting zero before the ball reached the Broncos’ defender, but the Big Ten Conference upheld the ruling that one second remained because the defender had jumped from an out‑of‑bounds position and made contact with the ball. The conference cited the rule that stops the clock when a player contacts the ball from out‑of‑bounds.
That one second allowed Michigan to run one more snap. Underwood connected with wide receiver J.J. Buchanan for a 46‑yard touchdown, putting the Wolverines ahead 13‑12. The extra point sealed the win.
Key performances
Underwood finished with 170 passing yards, a rushing total of 46 yards and a rushing touchdown, while also delivering the decisive Hail Mary. Buchanan’s clutch reception earned him the game‑winning touchdown. Western Michigan’s Joshua Franklin made a notable play by stripping the ball from Underwood late in the fourth quarter, but the Broncos could not capitalize.
The victory marks the first win of the Kyle Whittingham era in Ann Arbor and provides a morale boost for Michigan fans who feared an early upset reminiscent of the 2007 Appalachian State loss.
Looking ahead
Michigan’s next challenge arrives on September 12 when the Wolverines host the No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners in the Big House. The team will aim to build on this hard‑earned win and prove that the early controversy was a one‑off rather than a trend.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
