No. 16 Michigan secured a 13-12 victory over Western Michigan on Saturday night in a finish that drew significant attention. The game’s decisive moment came when officials ruled one second remained on the clock despite the scoreboard showing time had expired. Given the additional second, quarterback Bryce Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan on a 47-yard touchdown pass to secure the win. The controversial finish provided one of the few dramatic moments during an opening weekend otherwise characterized by lopsided contests.
The victory marked the debut of Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham, who replaced Sherrone Moore following the latter’s firing and arrest. Whittingham had emphasized a desire to reduce off-field drama surrounding the program, which had endured a tumultuous period under previous coach Jim Harbaugh. However, the on-field performance left room for improvement, as Michigan committed three turnovers, forced none, and allowed Western Michigan to control possession for more than two-thirds of the game. Underwood, who arrived as the nation’s top prospect but had an inconsistent freshman season, struggled through much of the night before his late heroics.
Elsewhere, new coaches experienced mixed results. Oklahoma State’s Eric Morris saw his rebuilding effort get off to a rough start with a 24-10 loss to Tulsa, despite assembling a roster featuring 91 newcomers. LSU’s Lane Kiffin enjoyed more immediate success, steering No. 11 LSU to a dominant 51-10 victory over Clemson. No. 2 Oregon rallied from a 10-point deficit to defeat Boise State 34-27, while No. 6 Indiana, the defending national champions, overwhelmed North Texas 52-16 despite defensive concerns. Notable individual performances included Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith, who accumulated 151 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone during the Buckeyes’ 56-3 triumph over Ball State, and Miami’s Malachi Toney, who set a school single-game receiving record with 234 yards in a 45-6 victory at Stanford.
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