There was no time left on the clock. Until there was.
On Saturday night in his debut as head coach of the 16th-ranked Michigan Wolverines, former Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham was headed for a 12-7 upset loss to the Western Michigan Broncos of the MAC when, quite frankly, officials bailed him and his team out.
The Wolverines had come up empty on a Hail Mary attempt on the final play of the game, and all indications were that was the end of it.
Except upon review, officials added one second back on the clock, and with the gift, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan — who followed Whittingham from Utah to Michigan — from 47 yards out for a touchdown to give the Wolverines the 13-12 victory.
The whole thing immediately became a national controversy. Here’s a look at some of the discussion that has taken place.
Michigan started the game out strong, marching 75 yards on the first drive of the game for a touchdown to go up 7-0 at the 9:40 mark of the first quarter, but then it was crickets offensively until the final play.
But like so often happened during Whittingham’s more than two decades leading Utah, the Wolverine defense kept the team in it as Western Michigan — which was picked to win the MAC — never found the end zone, scoring on just four field goals from Dieter Kelly.
The last one came with 35 seconds left, giving the Broncos the 12-7 lead.
On the ensuing drive starting at the 25 yard line, the Wolverines got nowhere on their first two plays before Underwood found Buchanan for 28 yards.
The next two plays went nowhere, leading up to the final play that turned into two plays.
For the game, Underwood finished 12 of 22 for 170 yards with the last-second touchdown and an interception. He also added 47 rushing yards on nine carries, including Michigan’s first touchdown in the first quarter.
Buchanan caught six of Underwood’s passes for 126 yards, and Trey Bowles and Dom Nichols led the defense.
Michigan faces No. 10 Oklahoma next week.