Michigan football lost to Western Michigan. Then the Big Ten stepped in

From news to sports, we help you stay connected to the world around you. www.usatoday.com By Matt Hayes , 5 hours ago This story has been updated to include new information. It's pretty simple. See the clock hit triple zeros, look at your screen. Or see the clock hit triple zeros, and press pause on your phone. Or TV. Or laptop. I'm pretty sure we all just witnessed Big Ten officials swing a game for a conference team. Michigan lost to Western Michigan. The game was over. Big Ten officials then decided to add one second to the game clock. 'THE MOST RIGGED ENDING EVER': Michigan Hail Mary robs Western Michigan of upset MORE: How much did Michigan pay WMU to scare living daylights out of it? Michigan then used the second, threw a successful Hail Mary and prevented mass depression in Ann Arbor. Without that gift to set up a 47-yard touchdown pass on the final play of Michigan's 13-12 win over Western Michigan, the Wolverines lose in Kyle Whittingham's first game as coach and Bryce Underwood is the most overpaid player in the brief and inglorious history of NIL. The Big Ten tried to explain its decision early Sunday morning, saying Western Michigan's Micah Davis made contact with the ball with one second remaining after jumping from out-of-bounds. It even showed video from the replay booth. But that doesn't bury this controversy. We all watched the clock hit triple zeros on the broadcast, which is synced with the replay system 85 minutes before kickoff, the Big Ten said in its statement. Even Terry McAulay, NBC's rules analyst for the game, was dumbfounded. "I don't see how that happened, assuming our clock is correct," McAulay said on the broadcast. "The ball is clearly still in the air when the clock goes to zero." It's too easy to assume the conference that has won the past three national titles, that has cruised by the SEC in the my-conference-is better-than-yours argument, wouldn't try to save one of its darlings from losing at home to a team from the Mid-American Conference. A Michigan team that scored on its first drive, then didn't do squat until the last play of the game. A Michigan quarterback (Underwood) who was paid millions to sign with the Wolverines prior to last season, and isn't the best at his position on the roster. Freshman Tommy Carr, Notre Dame star quarterback CJ Carr's younger brother, will be Michigan's quarterback before the calendar hits October. As sure as Western Michigan was robbed, Tommy Carr will take saps in next week's Oklahoma game. If you think the WMU defense confused Underwood, wait until OU coach Brent Venables — arguably the game's best defensive mind — shows Underwood what he's got. The only question is how long Whittingham stays with Underwood, who was underwhelming as a freshman and — if it's possible — looks worse as a sophomore. With or without the Big Ten's help. The play before the Big Ten stepped in, Underwood scrambled and threw what should've been the game's last play. It was another Hail Mary. And he threw it out of the end zone. When the game should've ended. Before the Big Ten stepped in. Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB. Listen to him daily, from 12-2 p.m., on 1010XL-Jacksonville .It's time to believe it. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan football lost to Western Michigan. Then the Big Ten stepped in | Opinion partner publisher · 2.0M followers Nebraska managed to avoid pulling a 'Rutgers' to win the Frank Solich Bowl in the school's season-opening home tilt. But as the Cornhuskers enter their fourth season under Matt Rhule, they didn't appear much closer than Greg Schiano's Rutgers program to even contending for a Big Ten title. Scoring the game's final 21 points, Nebraska pulled away after a scare from Ohio – which was paid $1.6 million for the game, per terms of the contract reviewed by USA TODAY Sports – in an 49-21 win . Solich, who served as head coach at both Nebraska and Ohio, was honored by the Cornhuskers with the Legends Award; he won 173 games as a head coach, 58 at Nebraska. 'I truly believe, and I'll probably get fried for saying this; we needed some of those things to happen,' said Rhule, who was agreed to a lucrative contract extension last October amidst purported interest from Penn State. 'We didn't need 70-0. I didn't want to give up a 75-yard touchdown play but I wanted a battle. This was great scheduling to be quite honest, the heat and cramping and all those things.' The Cornhuskers lost four of their last six games in partner publisher · 2.0M followers A key five-star prospect and a third-teamer on USA TODAY Sports preseason All-America team was ejected Friday night, Sept. 4. Seneca Driver, who is off to a tear this season with six receiving touchdowns and a pick on the defensive side, was ejected from Boyle County's Week 3 clash against Lexington Catholic. According to reporting from Prep Redzone KY's Barkley Truax, Driver was tossed from the game after his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty midway through the second quarter. Development: Five-star TE and Oklahoma football commit Seneca Driver has been thrown out of the football game. — Barkley Truax (@BarkleyTruax) September 5, 2026 The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Driver was coming off a breakout junior season in which he contributed as a receiver, short-yardage running back, and defensive playmaker. He helped lead Boyle County to a Class 4A state championship in 2025 and was named the championship game's MVP. He finished with 875 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, adding three rushing scores, 67 tackles, 3 sacks, and 5 interceptions in 15 games. Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and partner publisher · 2.0M followers Last week's high school football showdowns were huge, and this week's might be even bigger. Headlined by a blockbuster matchup that pits No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas against a surging sixth-ranked Columbus team and its standout star A'mir Sears, this week's slate also includes an all-Texas game between No. 16 Allen and DeSoto and the first ever meeting of North Carolina powerhouses No. 24 Hough and Providence Day. Here are the final high school football scores for USA TODAY Sports Super 25 teams in Week 3: 1. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL) 9/4 : St. Thomas Aquinas 31, Columbus (FL) 24 - FINAL 2. IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) 9/5 : IMG 41, St. Louis (HI) 0 - FINAL 3. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, MD) 9/4 : St. Frances Academy 38, Vero Beach (FL) 6 - FINAL 4. Buford (GA) 9/4 : Buford 41, Mallard Creek 7 - FINAL 5. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) 9/4 : Santa Margarita 55, Highland (CA) 7 - FINAL 6. Columbus (Miami, FL) 9/4 : St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) 31, Columbus 24 - FINAL 7. Centennial (Corona, CA) Idle 8. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV) 9/4: Bishop Gorman 38, Lone Peak (UT) 14 partner publisher · 2.0M followers GLENCOE — Susan Moore football player Lucas Beard was taken from the Glencoe football field in a medical helicopter on Friday, Sept. 4. Beard went down on the field following the final play of the first half with an undetermined injury. Quickly, trainers from both teams and EMTs at the game tended to Beard. A backboard was brought out, but Beard stayed on the ground for around 30 minutes while medics worked around him. One helper was seen holding Beard's neck area soon after he went down. After an ambulance arrived, the medical helicopter took Beard to a Birmingham hospital, later announced to be UAB after a reroute from Children's Hospital. Birmingham is about an hour drive from Glencoe, but was about 20 minutes through the air. Following the 20-minute halftime break, in which both bands took the field, Susan Moore head coach Wes Patterson told The Gadsden Times he was told Beard had landed in Birmingham and had feeling in his fingers and toes when he left Glencoe. "I think a little bit of it was exhaustion. We know he has a concussion but he had movement in all extremities," Patterson said after the game. "He was better when partner publisher · 2.0M followers Texas Attorney General and U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton is reacting to President Donald Trump's criticism of the way he dresses. Paxton brushed off Trump's wardrobe critique during a Sept. 3 appearance on Fox News, saying Texas is 'a relatively casual place' and pointing to the Lone Star State's summer heat. 'I've got my sports jacket on. I love it. Texas is a relatively casual place in the summer, and it's hot. We adjust. We wear cowboy boots, and we wear a blazer, and we're all good,' Paxton said. Ken Paxton responds to Trump trashing his clothes: I've got my sports jacket on, I love it. Texas is a rather casual place in the summer and it's hot. We adjust. Wear cowboy boots, a blazer, and we're good. pic.twitter.com/9uaVglIOGF — Acyn (@Acyn) September 3, 2026 Trump says Paxton's suit 'doesn't look so great' Trump criticized Paxton's appearance during a Rose Garden dinner at the White House on Sept. 2, while also praising his record as Texas attorney general. 'And I say this, it's so insulting to him, but I might as well say it. You might not like the way he looks, you might not love his look, you might partner publisher · 2.0M followers Three attacks involving an animal that "displayed unusually aggressive behavior toward people," which can be associated with rabies , have been reported in New Hampshire, according to authorities. However, officials have yet to determine exactly what type of animal is ambushing the unsuspecting humans. From Aug. 30 -31 , police received three reports of animal attacks in the same area of Lebanon, about 122 miles northwest of Boston, according to news releases from the Lebanon Police Department. The attacks seem to be unprovoked, and police believe the same animal is responsible. Video shows the moment one person was attacked by the unknown animal. The wild animal is shown running from what appears to be a wooded area as the victim walks around a moving truck. The animal then goes after the person's legs in an unprovoked attack. It attacks the victim multiple times. The victim is seen flinging the animal away from them after it attacks their legs again, and then the animal returns to the wooded area. See video of the animal attack Animal species still unknown The animal responsible for the attacks has not been identified, but witnesses say they believe the animal is either a gray fox partner publisher · 2.0M followers What was looking like a tragedy in Ann Arbor quickly devolved into mania and euphoria, with No. 16 Michigan football earning a miracle win vs. Western Michigan. After the game appeared over, with a Bryce Underwood desperation heave sailing out of the end zone and the clocks showing zeroes, it seemed as though Lance Taylor's Broncos had earned an incomprehensible 12-7 win. HAYES: Michigan lost to Western Michigan. Then the Big Ten stepped in REQUIRED READING: How much did Michigan pay WMU to scare living daylights out of it? However, officials after review put one second back on the clock, allowing Underwood to connect with JJ Buchanan for a Hail Mary touchdown on the last play of the game, giving Michigan a 13-12 win over WMU. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7fBxrBtA2B — Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) September 6, 2026 That later led to a rarely seen sight in Michigan Stadium, as Wolverines fans rushed the field to celebrate the victory: The field storm has now engulfed both red zones pic.twitter.com/dpQdXbMgdO — RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 6, 2026 Amidst the chaos, first-year coach Kyle Whittingham, seemingly aware of the miraculous nature of his first win in Ann Arbor, called it "one for the history books." Adding partner publisher · 2.0M followers Minneapolis residents are waiting for answers after a gunman opened fire in a high-rise apartment building , leading to a gunfight with police the afternoon of Sept. 2. Three people, including the suspect, were killed. A total of six others were injured, including three police officers. Two officers and three other people were hit with gunfire and a third officer had unspecified injuries, authorities said. The shooting unfolded at about 4:36 p.m., according to Minneapolis Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson, who said officers began responding to an active shooting situation after multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire in the downtown building. The police officers who responded were hailed for putting themselves in harm's way to help people escape. "But for their heroic work the death toll would be far higher," Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said. Here's what we know about the Minneapolis shooting: What happened in Minneapolis apartment building shooting? The suspect in the shooting began firing outside the apartment building, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans told reporters Sept. 3. According to Evans, the suspect was outside the building doing a "custody exchange" of his child with a woman believed to be the mother. He shot the woman partner publisher · 2.0M followers "Pawn Stars" star Rick Harrison has been hospitalized following emergency surgery. Harrison, 61, underwent an unexpected bypass surgery – an operation to restore or reroute blood flow – after going in "for a simpler procedure," a spokesperson for the family told USA TODAY on Friday, Sept. 4. "He is resting comfortably and looking forward to a full recovery," the spokesperson added. "He is grateful for the doctors and staff at the hospital and that his wife and family can be with him during this time." At the beginning of the year, Harrison married Angie Polushkin after two years of dating. He also has six children from previous relationships: sons Corey, Adam and Jake, and daughters Sarina, Ciana and Marissa. Adam died from a drug overdose in 2024 at the age of 39. Known as "The Spotter," Harrison and his family-run Gold & Silver Pawn Shop on Las Vegas Boulevard have been the subjects of the History Channel's "Pawn Stars" since 2009. The show has seen Harrison become a fan-favorite over the years, earning a reputation for his sharp eye for anything fake or stolen. Family tragedy: A look at 'Pawn Stars' creator Rick Harrison and family following tragic death of partner publisher · 2.0M followers It was 8:30 p.m. on a Tuesday night and 22-year-old Fraser Bohm had just accidentally killed four sorority sisters. Bohm was speeding in his BMW on Dead Man's Curve, a notorious stretch of Southern California's Pacific Coast Highway. Prosecutors say Bohm was driving 104 mph in a 45 mph zone when he lost control and slammed into parked cars, which then barreled into the sorority sisters as they stood on a sidewalk on Oct. 17, 2023. The crash killed Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams, all seniors at Pepperdine University in Malibu and members of the Alpha Phi sorority. "I feel awful," Bohm told investigating officers, according to a transcript obtained by USA TODAY. "Trust me, I'm so (expletive) up." Bohm did not set out to kill the young women that terrible night, but he's being tried on four counts of second-degree murder and four counts of vehicular manslaughter. His trial begins Dec. 1. Prosecutors argue Bohm understood that driving so fast could have deadly consequences and did it anyway, showing "a reckless disregard for life." Bohm's attorneys say a road rage driver clipped him just before the accident and point to his lack of criminal record partner publisher · 2.0M followers FCA US is recalling more than 239,000 Ram vehicles due to a rearview camera error. The recall was issued for approximately 239,131 Ram vehicles because a radio software error may cause the rearview camera image to not display, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall report. A faulty rearview camera display increases the risk of crash. FCA US estimates 100% of the outlined vehicles are impacted by the issue. Stellantis, parent company of FCA US, told USA TODAY that during a company investigation, some vehicles displayed a blue screen instead of the rearview camera image when the vehicle was shifted into reverse. If the rearview camera image doesn't appear, drivers should remain aware of their surroundings and use rearview and side mirrors. As of Sept. 4, Stellanits was unaware of any accidents or injuries related to the recall. Here's what to know about the Ram recall. What Ram vehicle model is being recalled? The recall affects the following model, according to the NHTSA report: 2025-2026 Ram 1500 vehicles What to do if your Ram is recalled Dealerships will update the affected radio software for free, according to the NHTSA report. Vehicle owners with questions may contact Chrysler partner publisher · 2.0M followers The U.S. women are starting the road to the Los Angeles Olympics in a tough spot. The Americans drew the first subdivision in qualifying , where scores tend to be the lowest, at the upcoming world gymnastics championships. They also finish their Oct. 18 qualifying session on balance beam, the event where nerves are most likely to be a factor. This doesn't mean the U.S. women can't make the podium, where the top three teams automatically qualify for LA28. Scores start over after qualifying, and the Americans have won every team title going back to the 2011 world championships. They also could be bringing two Olympic gold medalists in Hezly Rivera and Jade Carey , with the worlds team to be named after a selection camp Sept. 30-Oct. 1. But with scores typically rising as qualifying goes on, being in the first subdivision could affect where the U.S. women start in the team final and how many U.S. women make event finals. Russia, expected to be the Americans' biggest competition for gold, is in the eighth of 10 subdivisions at its first worlds with a full team since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Olympic silver medalist Italy is in partner publisher · 2.0M followers Just one game into the 2026 season, Mart (TX) head football coach and athletic director Chris Lancaster has resigned, according to a report from DCTF's Matt Stepp . Lancaster's resignation was confirmed in a letter sent out to the community. The second-winningest program in Texas' illustrious high school football history, Lancaster joined the Panthers in 2025, leading the program to a 7-6 record. This year, they opened the season with a 40-0 home loss to Whitney. In the letter, it was announced that assistant coach Kyle Stone will serve as both the interim athletic director and football coach going forward. Stone's first game as interim head coach will be Friday night as the Panthers travel to Axtell. 'Mart ISD would like to share that, effective today, Coach Lancaster has resigned from his position as Athletic Director/Head Football Coach of Mart ISD," the letter to the public reads. "We are grateful for Coach Lancaster's time, leadership, and dedication to Mart ISD and our athletic programs. We wish him the very best as he begins his next journey. We know our coaching staff, student-athletes, student body, teachers, administrators, families, and community join us in wishing Coach Lancaster continued success in all future partner publisher · 2.0M followers A Pittsburgh attorney accused of concealing evidence related to an alleged cocaine trafficking ring among fraternity brothers at Pennsylvania State University will be tried in county court. Paul Robinson appeared in court along with former Penn State students, where preliminary hearings took place ahead of a Centre County judge ruling that Robinson and five former students would have their cases tried in county court. Those hearings came after an investigation into alleged drug trafficking primarily at the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternity houses at Penn State during 2023 and 2024. In August, 14 people were charged in connection to the operation, with attorney Paul Robinson being the only non-student to face charges. During a Sept. 2 hearing, a former student and fraternity brother of Thomas Robinson, Paul Robinson's son and one of the alleged leaders of the drug trafficking operation who was previously charged with drug dealing in December 2024, testified that the elder Robinson had helped him move and conceal a safe suspected of containing cocaine. Here's what to know. Former student says Pittsburgh attorney helped retrieve, hide safe in drug trafficking ring Ryan Matson, a former Penn State student and member of Delta Upsilon, said during a partner publisher · 2.0M followers It's not often that fans of college football 's all-time winningest program rush the field to celebrate a one-point win over a team from the Mid-American Conference. Then again, there was nothing remotely normal about the way that Michigan beat Western Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 5. The No. 16 Wolverines looked to be on the losing end of a monumental upset, with a Bryce Underwood Hail Mary going out of the back of the end zone to seal a 12-7 loss to Western Michigan. After a video review, though, game officials added one second back on the clock. REQUIRED READING: WMU robbed? Officials add 1 second as Michigan Hail Mary helps Wolverines win Michigan made the most of the second chance, with Underwood heaving a 47-yard pass that ended up in the hands of teammate JJ Buchanan in the end zone to give the Wolverines a stunning and equally controversial 13-12 victory over the Broncos . Apparently energized by the dramatic turn of events, with a deflating loss turning into a shocking win in just a handful of minutes, Michigan fans flocked from their seats in the Big House down to the field where Underwood's miraculous touchdown had just occurred,