No. 18 Michigan pulled off a 13-12 miracle win against Western Michigan today, saving Kyle Whittingham’s highly anticipated debut with a last-second 47-yard heave from sophomore QB Bryce Underwood to JJ Buchanan. But don’t let that dramatic ending fool you, because what came before that final play was an utter mess that raises massive questions about this team and its star quarterback. For about five minutes, things looked great: Underwood hit all five of his attempts for 61 yards, capping an extended scoring drive with a short touchdown run. Then, everything went sideways.
That 47-Yard Bomb Hid a Whole Lot of Ugly
After that opening drive, Michigan was absolutely outplayed by Western Michigan. They were staring down a 12-7 loss before that magical extra second and Underwood’s even more magical final toss saved the day. This win overwrites what was, to that point, a complete debacle for a tenure that promised stability after a run of on- and off-field embarrassments. Western Michigan dominated the point of attack, leading to extended drives that just taxed Michigan’s defense. Seriously, WMU went ahead 9-7 with a field goal after a ridiculous 20-play, 71-yard drive that chewed up 14 minutes. The Broncos held the ball for over 38 minutes total! Until that final play, Michigan only gained 201 yards on 4.8 yards per snap. That’s rough, folks.
Underwood’s Rollercoaster Is a Red Flag
Bryce Underwood’s performance was a huge concern, especially after that hot start. After his first five throws and before his last, he went a dismal 6 of 16 for just 62 yards. Yikes. A costly interception by Underwood late in the first half led to a WMU field goal, cutting Michigan’s lead to 7-6. Even worse, with under two minutes to go and the Wolverines pinned in their own territory, he fumbled while scrambling, nearly handing WMU the game. The offense turned the ball over three times and converted just once on third down. This “lack of growth” from Underwood after an offseason with the new staff suggests his issues with pocket and game management might be baked into his profile as a player. It’s not a great look for the hope that Whittingham and offensive coordinator Jason Beck could do for Underwood what they did for Utah’s Devon Dampier.
The Oklahoma Test Looms Large
The warning signs from this game are screaming. This 13-12 escape might save Whittingham’s debut from being an immediate faceplant, but it does serious damage to any hope of his decades-long touch at Utah instantly translating. This feels like a faceplant that will be very, very difficult to overcome and will threaten to define Whittingham’s entire first season. This could even be the canary in the coal mine for this out-of-nowhere hire. The warning signs coming out of Saturday should absolutely drop Michigan out of the US LBM Coaches Poll. Next week, they face a massive test against No. 9 Oklahoma. If they play like they did today, a similar late-game miracle won’t cut it, and the questions about Whittingham returning the program to the top of the Big Ten will only get louder.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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