Hail Marys And Heartbreak: Michigan's Wild September

September gave Michigan football just about everything — a miracle, a marquee win, a blowout, and a gut-punch — in the span of four Saturdays at and around Michigan Stadium.

A miracle to start

The Wolverines opened on September 5 with a 13-12 win over Western Michigan sealed by a last-second Hail Mary touchdown. The finish was controversial: the Big Ten later said replay officials determined a Broncos defender was out of bounds when he made contact with the ball with one second remaining, a call that would have ended the game differently.

The high point

Michigan backed it up a week later, grinding out a 17-10 win over Oklahoma on September 12 — the kind of defensive, physical victory that defines the program. The Wolverines then rolled past UTEP 52-17 on September 19 to move to 3-0.

The stumble

The month ended on a sour note. Michigan fell 20-19 to Iowa at Michigan Stadium on September 26, a one-point home loss that cut short the early-season momentum. With quarterback Bryce Underwood under center, the Wolverines showed both their ceiling and their fragility in a single month — and set up a long season with plenty still to prove.