The Michigan Wolverines avoided a significant upset in their season opener, defeating the Western Michigan Broncos 13-12 on a dramatic Hail Mary pass in the game's final second. The victory marked the debut of head coach Kyle Whittingham.
Michigan entered the matchup at Michigan Stadium as a 27.5-point favorite. The game, however, evolved into a defensive struggle with a low-scoring first half. Michigan opened the scoring with a touchdown run from quarterback Bryce Underwood, but Western Michigan responded with two field goals, taking a 7-6 lead into halftime.
The second half continued the defensive trend. Western Michigan extended its lead to 9-7 with a third field goal in the fourth quarter. The Broncos then increased their advantage to 12-7 after recovering a fumble from Underwood. Despite the Wolverines' late push, they faced a deficit with minimal time remaining.
Underwood ultimately connected with receiver JJ Buchanan for a 46-yard touchdown as time expired, giving Michigan the improbable 13-12 win. Underwood finished the game with 170 passing yards and one rushing touchdown. The winning touchdown followed a controversial review that determined one second remained on the clock after a previous play.
The Wolverines' next game is scheduled for September 12, when they are set to host the No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners.