The dramatic, and dramatically questionable conclusion of the Week 1 college football game between Michigan and Western Michigan will be remembered by fans for quite some time. Unfortunately, when it’s remembered in the history books, it will be remembered as a loss for Western Michigan.
Those that witnessed the game know what they saw—the Broncos leading the Wolverines after a pass went through the back of the end zone and the clock read only zeroes. Some officiating shenanigans put one second back on the clock, and Michigan scored with that one second, and even though the FBS oversight committee recognized that the clock rules were not correctly followed, the game officially stands as a Western Michigan loss.
You can count Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson among those on the side of Western Michigan. Speaking with reporters ahead of the Broncos matchup this weekend against another team of Broncos, Danielson had high praise for WMU and called them “undefeated,” regardless of what the record books may say.
“This is a stingy defense now. I saw a little bit of what happened with the Michigan-Western Michigan game early on. When I went back and studied this, unbelievable. They’re an undefeated football team. Period. End of story,” Danielson said. “I don’t care, all the stuff that they can and can’t— you watch that game, they absolutely beat Michigan at Michigan. And that’s not hype; that is what happened. Coach Taylor and their staff, I tip my hat to them. That defense held Michigan to 12 points — six points, excuse me —unbelievable.”
“They’re an undefeated football team. Period. End of story… You watch that game; they absolutely beat Michigan, at Michigan. And that’s not hype. That is what happened.”
– Boise State HC Spencer Danielson on Western Michigan
(via @CFBONFOX) pic.twitter.com/MNQFMNLRdK
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 21, 2026
While these all read as true beliefs from Danielson, it also serves a second purpose as a healthy bit of politicking for his team’s potential future playoff bid. Boise State is one of the top Group of Six teams in the country, and could be in play for the bid reserved for a non-power conference program. Going up against a 1–1 team in the MAC is one thing, but battling an undefeated team that took down a Big Ten powerhouse looks much better on a playoff resume.
In that case, Danielson is in luck, as the selection committee will be able to consider games in their own way, meaning that while the team’s record may read one way, they can interpret that game however they like.
About Tyler Lauletta
Tyler is a editorial contributor at Awful Announcing, with previous stops at Sports Illustrated and Business Insider during his career covering sports in digital media. He is, begrudgingly, a Truster of the Process and general Philly sports sicko.