1 second is a long time: FIELD STORMing in ann arbor, wmu vs michigan game recap

There were some embarrassing moments from the opening weekend in college football. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights got blasted by the worst team in college football, the Clemson Tigers got run off the field by the LSU Tigers, and the Boston College Eagles didn’t show up at all against the Cincinnati Bearcats. But the most embarrassing moment of the weekend, and potentially in college football history, was what occurred in Ann Arbor, MI on Saturday.

The Michigan Wolverines hosted the Western Michigan Broncos in their opening game of the season. With high expectations under first-year head coach Kyle Whittingham, Michigan hoped to start their year off strong with a win over their in-state rivals, whom they have beaten all nine times when the two have met up.

But when the game started, everything changed. Michigan didn’t look like Michigan. Western didn’t look like Western. Wolverines Quarterback Bryce Underwood couldn’t complete a pass. Michigan running back Jordan Marshall didn’t break out in the way many thought he would. Overall, they weren’t able to function at all offensively. Highly touted receivers Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan were nonexistent for the majority of the game for the Wolverines, and the offense showed no improvement from last year until now.

The Wolverines scored just a single touchdown in the first three quarters, while the Broncos were able to put up two field goals. Going into the fourth quarter, it was 7-6 in favor of Michigan. A four-quarter slugfest is not the situation you want to find yourself in against a regional opponent as a team like Michigan with championship aspirations.

Western’s special teams worked their magic in the fourth quarter, piling up a field goal to extend the lead to 9-7 before giving the ball back to Underwood with a chance to lead his team to victory. However, Western Michigan DB Joshua Franklin had something to say about that. Franklin punched the ball out of Underwood’s hands with 1:50 left, and the Broncos would tally in a field goal from kicker Dieter Kelly with just 35 seconds left to take a 12-7 lead. Michigan was still going to get the ball back with 35 seconds left, but it somehow seemed like the upset was complete. The energy was completely wiped from the Big House and Kyle Whittingham was ready to have his first game in Ann Arbor represent one of the programs worst losses since Appalachian State in 2007. 

Underwood opened up the Wolverines final drive with 35 seconds left and came out firing. After a strike to Buchanan got the offense to midfield, Underwood went into hail mary mode with 9 seconds left, heaving a prayer to the back of the end zone that was knocked down by Michigan transfer safety Micah Davis for the Broncos; the game was over at the hands of a former Wolverine. ​The Broncos were celebrating, and Michigan fans across the country turned off the TV in anger the second the ball hit the ground. 

Not So Fast, My Friend: After a review on the last-second heave, the refs revealed that there was actually a second on the clock as Davis made contact with the ball after jumping from out of bounds with one second left. Many disagreed, but they allowed one final play. So Underwood dropped back, made a throw, and of course, he found Buchanan in the end zone to win the football game on an absolutely unbelievable heave and diving catch from Buchanan, who was surrounded by 10 Wolverines and Broncos in the front of the end zone.

Not only was adding that extra second a poor call, but it completely changed the game, as well as both teams’ seasons. And to make matters worse, Michigan fans stormed the field to celebrate their one-point home victory against a MAC school like they had just beaten Ohio State to clinch a spot in the playoffs.

Fun Fact: After the game ended, the Broncos attempted to appeal the game, as they felt the extra second was unfair and that “proper replay protocol was not followed”, but the NCAA declined, ruling that it was unfair to the sport to overturn games, and supported the Big Tens statement stating that the extra second was properly warranted.

The Wolverines have a long way to go now. With a quarterback that looks like he can’t throw the football and a head coach that hasn’t proven a thing in Ann Arbor, a disastrous season may be incoming regardless of the group escaping against Western Michigan. To make matters worse, next week is one of their toughest tests of the year, where they take on the Oklahoma Sooners. Michigan is going to need to figure it out ASAP if they want to turn their season around and avoid disaster.

​For Western Michigan, as hurt as this loss will leave the Broncos, the group showed they should be in the conversation for this year's group of 5 playoff bid. Western Michigan’s matchup against Boise State in three weeks could have major playoff indications.

For the Wolverines, the squad must prepare itself for an extremely challenging matchup against Oklahoma next week. It’s going to be a hostile environment, even at home, and there will be a lot of pressure on the squad. But, as the well-known saying goes, pressure makes diamonds, and the pain that they have felt thus far in the season can turn into a potential massive upset next week to hopefully get America back on the side of the Wolverines.