Kathmandu— In a thrilling finish, No. 16 Michigan managed to survive a scare against Western Michigan, securing a 13-12 victory after a game-ending Hail Mary pass from Bryce Underwood to JJ Buchanan. The Wolverines were 27 1/2-point favorites in coach Kyle Whittingham’s debut, but the Broncos nearly pulled off a historic upset, threatening to hand Michigan its biggest upset since 2007.

Game-Changing Hail Mary

With the clock seemingly expired, Underwood’s first Hail Mary attempt sailed out of bounds, leading Western Michigan players to celebrate. However, officials called for a review, and TV replays showed the clock hitting zero before the ball was touched by a Western Michigan defender. The officials ruled there was still a second remaining, prompting Underwood to heave another throw, which Buchanan caught for the game-winning touchdown. Michigan’s coach Whittingham praised the play, saying, “One for the history books right here.”

Broncos' Resilience

Western Michigan, the defending Mid-American Conference champions, showed resilience, forcing three turnovers and kicking four field goals. The Broncos were threatening to hand Michigan its biggest upset since 2007, when the Wolverines were 33-point favorites. Dieter Kelly’s 39-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter gave Western Michigan the lead for the first time, capping a 20-play drive that took 13:40 off the clock. Despite Underwood’s mistakes, including a fumble and nearly getting picked off twice, the Wolverines managed to secure the win.

Review and Clarification

The Big Ten stood by the review, stating that Western Michigan No. 18 started his jump from an established out-of-bounds position and made contact with the ball with one second remaining on the clock. Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher thanked the Big Ten for its prompt response. The conference and school contacted the Big Ten office for clarification, which was provided along with video and audio that confirmed the ruling.

Western Michigan will host Monmouth on Saturday, while Michigan will face No. 10 Oklahoma in their next game.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.