Michigan survives disputed finish as LSU, Oregon and UMass make Week 1 statements
Michigan beat Western Michigan 13–12 after a replay review restored one second to the clock, while LSU routed Clemson and UMass secured a notable upset over Rutgers.
Michigan escaped Western Michigan 13–12 after officials restored one second to the clock following a replay review. Bryce Underwood’s first last-second pass appeared to fall incomplete as time expired, but his next attempt found JJ Buchanan for the winning touchdown.
The decision prompted questions about replay transparency, as television viewers were not shown the additional angles or discussion behind the ruling. The Big Ten later released video and replay-team audio supporting the adjustment, offering a more defensible explanation of how officials reached their conclusion.
The result spared Michigan what would have been a 13–12 defeat and Western Michigan’s first win over the Wolverines in nine meetings. It also overshadowed an uneven performance in the opening week of the college football season.
LSU delivered the clearest result among the headline games, defeating Clemson 51–10. Oregon beat Boise State 34–27 in a closer contest, despite coach Dan Lanning saying there was “a lot to fix” and “a lot to clean up”. Quarterback Dante Moore threw for a career-high 378 yards.
UMass added the week’s most unlikely result by upsetting Rutgers. The Minutemen had entered with a 0–32 record against power-conference opponents and a 16-game losing streak. Elsewhere, Miami receiver Malachi Toney posted 234 yards and three touchdowns against Stanford, while quarterback Darian Mensah threw for 401 yards and five touchdowns.
