Big Ten attempts to explain officiating review in Michigan's controversial Hail Mary win over WMU

On the first Saturday of the 2026 college football season, Michigan secured a 13-12 victory over Western Michigan with a Hail Mary touchdown on the final play. This miraculous play was only possible after the Big Ten officials added a second to the game clock after reviewing an incomplete Hail Mary attempt by Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood.

NBC's game clock graphic showed the clock reaching zero as the ball sailed out of bounds, leading to a confusion among fans and players. However, NBC's replay showed the clock displaying one second when Western Michigan safety Micah Davis touched the ball out of the back of the end zone. This discrepancy between the broadcast clock and the actual game clock raised questions about the officiating decision.

Both NBC and the Big Ten addressed the issue, with NBC's game clock graphic being out of sync with the stadium clock, and officials using a direct shot of the game block to make the final ruling. Western Michigan president Russ Kavalhuna requested a second look at the game, and Western Michigan's coach Lance Taylor expressed relief after the review.

Michigan's coach Kyle Whittingham hailed the extra second as crucial, stating it was clear the ball was still in the air when the clock hit zero.