Michigan wins on second-chance Hail Mary; Big Ten stands by review - ESPN

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Given an unlikely second chance at a game-ending Hail Mary, Bryce Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan for a 47-yard touchdown pass that lifted No. 16 Michigan over Western Michigan 13-12 on Saturday night.

The Wolverines were 27½-point favorites in coach Kyle Whittingham's debut. The Broncos and their stingy defense thought they had secured a historic upset when Underwood's first Hail Mary sailed out of bounds as the clock expired.

WMU players were already on the field celebrating when officials called for a review. TV replays showed the clock hitting zero before the ball hit the hands of Western Michigan safety Micah Davis, but officials ruled there was a second still to play.

«I was pretty sure there was 1 second left,» Whittingham said.

Underwood heaved another throw, and Buchanan leaped to snag it and came down with it in the end zone.

«One for the history books right here,» Whittingham said.

The Big Ten stood by the review in a statement released two hours after the game, when it also published a recording of the replay as it was reviewed by the officials that showed the game clock at 1 second when the ball was touched by Davis.

«It was determined Western Michigan No. 18 started his jump from an established out-of-bounds position (left foot) and made contact with the ball with one second remaining on the clock,» the conference said, citing rule that stops the clock on such contact.

Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said the conference and school contacted the Big Ten office, seeking clarification on the review and was provided with an explanation along with video and audio that confirmed it. Steinbrecher thanked the Big Ten for its prompt response.

WMU went ahead for the first