Sports

ESPN Analysts Question Big Ten's Explanation for Controversial Michigan-Western Michigan Finish

By Tony Paul

Western Michigan officials have accepted the outcome of their team's controversial loss to Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 5, but ESPN commentators are voicing strong doubts about the Big Ten's explanation for how the game ended.

Michigan defeated Western Michigan 13-12 after being awarded one additional play following a disputed clock situation. The Wolverines used that final opportunity to complete a Hail Mary touchdown pass from quarterback Bryce Underwood to JJ Buchanan, securing the win.

The controversy stems from conflicting clock readings. The Big Ten stated early Sunday morning, roughly two hours after the game concluded, that its official clock showed one second remaining when a Western Michigan player touched the ball out of bounds, which justified the extra play. However, the clock displayed by broadcaster NBC had already hit zero before that same moment. NBC later clarified that its on-screen clock is not the official game clock.

Despite the confusion, Western Michigan president Russ Kavalhuna and head coach Lance Taylor publicly accepted the Big Ten's ruling, along with the video and audio evidence provided during the replay review. The Mid-American Conference also accepted the explanation.

Not everyone is convinced, however. Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky criticized the ruling during an appearance on ESPN's "Get Up" on Monday, Sept. 9. "In 2026, we don't have clocks synced up the same way? Are you serious?" Orlovsky said. He noted that, from his perspective watching the broadcast, the clock reached zero before the Western Michigan player touched the ball. "If we as viewers don't have the appropriate clock, then why are we watching?" he asked, adding that he has no personal stake in either team's success. "Everything about that feels like it's lying," he said.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith expressed similar skepticism on "First Take." Smith noted that Western Michigan received a $1.5 million payment from Michigan for the game, and questioned whether that influenced the school's willingness to accept the ruling. "I hate using the word 'rigged'... but dammit, if it looks like a duck and it walks like a duck, it ain't a damn mongoose," Smith said. He dismissed the idea that two different clocks could explain the discrepancy, calling the explanation "nonsense" and "an absolute joke."

Western Michigan entered the game as a 27.5-point underdog and came within roughly one second of pulling off what would have been the biggest upset in program history.