The controversial finish between Western Michigan and Michigan has been the talk of the college football world since Saturday night. Western Michigan appeared to have pulled off a huge upset in Ann Arbor after a pass from Bryce Underwood sailed out of the back of the end zone as time expired on the NBC broadcast clock. But officials put one second back on the clock after review (which even confused NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay), and Underwood went on to connect with JJ Buchanan for a 47-yard walk-off touchdown in a 13-12 Michigan win.
Well, during Sunday night’s game between No. 24 Louisville and No. 8 Ole Miss in Nashville, officials gathered to try to figure out if the first half should be over, and that led to loose references about the Western Michigan-Michigan finish on the ESPN on ABC broadcast.
With six seconds remaining in the first half, Louisville kicked off to Ole Miss, and the Rebels returned the ball to their own 21-yard line.
“And that’s the end of the half,” play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough said.
“Stop me if you’ve heard this before- There might be a second left,” color commentator Greg McElroy said.
“Oh boy,” McDonough replied.
“I’m just saying, there might be a second left. Is it too soon? Maybe,” McElroy said.
“Let’s put a second back on so they can take a knee,” McDonough added.
“Just throw a Hail Mary, Sean,” McElroy responded, again alluding to the Western Michigan-Michigan finish.
Greg McElroy: “Stop me if you’ve heard this before- There might be a second left.”
Sean McDonough: “Oh boy.”
Greg: “Is it too soon?”
Sean: “Let’s put a second back on so they can take a knee.”
Greg: “Just throw a Hail Mary, Sean.”
Sean: “Common sense prevails!” pic.twitter.com/rZkGcwlYUr
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 7, 2026
“Common sense prevails!” McDonough quipped after officials ruled that the half was officially over.
McElroy laughed before adding, “As always in college football, right?”
“But in the words of the great (ESPN rules analyst) Matt Austin, we have rules as well,” McDonough said.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at Awful Announcing and The Comeback.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@awfulannouncing.com.