Texas HC Steve Sarkisian reveals what ‘shocked' him most about Michigan's Clockgate win over WMU

Steve Sarkisian admits he was shocked Michigan fans stormed the field after their controversial walk-off Hail Mary win over Western Michigan. Entering the 2026 season ranked No. 5 in the nation, Texas football team head coach Steve Sarkisian challenged the Longhorns with a powerful three-word mantra: 'Prove us right.' He urged his players to tune out the external noise and demonstrate their worth across every position group in their quest for a national championship. While the Longhorns started their season on a positive note, Sarkisian couldn't help but comment on the most dramatic finish of college football's opening weekend: Michigan's controversial 'Clockgate' victory over Western Michigan. Facing a potential home loss, the Wolverines narrowly escaped with a 13-12 win after officials controversially added one second to the game clock. This allowed Bryce Underwood to throw a walk-off Hail Mary touchdown. Article Continues Below During his Monday press conference, Sarkisian offered an unfiltered reaction to the chaotic finish at Michigan Stadium. He expressed his thoughts on the situation, which were highlighted by On3, stating, 'I still don't understand or get the final ruling of it all. It's unfortunate for Western Michigan, who played their hearts out, to lose like that. I've lost games like that before on a Hail Mary, and it definitely sucks. My biggest surprise was that they stormed the field. That was unexpected.' Sarkisian's confusion mirrored the sentiment of college football observers nationwide, many of whom questioned why a traditional powerhouse would celebrate by rushing the field after narrowly escaping a Mid-American Conference opponent as a four-touchdown favorite. While the Wolverines managed to secure a win dramatically, Sarkisian's remarks underscored the stark contrast between surviving a close game due to a referee's decision and the championship-level expectations that come with competing at the highest levels of the sport.