Craig Carton Criticizes Michigan Fans for Celebrating Narrow Win

Craig Carton criticized Michigan Wolverines fans for celebrating the team’s controversial win over the Western Michigan Broncos. Michigan narrowly defeated Western Michigan 13-12, relying on a second Hail Mary pass by Bryce Underwood after officials ruled a Western Michigan player touched the ball with one second remaining. Underwood found J.J. Buchanan for the winning score.

Carton, whose show premieres on OutKick, questioned the fan response: “Was that a reason to storm the field like you beat Ohio State? No,” he remarked. “The hubris of adding time to the game, then celebrating like you achieved something significant, was baffling.”

Carton criticized the behavior: “With 110,000 people there, they stormed the field like Western Michigan beating a Big Ten team,” he said. “It’s a reminder that despite Michigan’s educational reputation, their fans’ behavior was foolish.”

Carton added, “Michigan is known for a corrupt athletic program, with coaches involved in questionable activities, yet Saturday showed me that the students are not wise either. Storming the field for barely beating Western Michigan, needing assistance to win, shows the nature of Michigan students.”

The Wolverines were expected to perform better against an FBS team like Western Michigan, which only joins the AP rank in 2016 under P.J. Fleck. Carton emphasized, “It’s not a game for Michigan fans to celebrate. It’s a warning about the rest of the season. Michigan football is in a poor state.”

He continued, “Remember the performance Saturday night—it took misconduct to beat a MAC team while favored by 27 points. Fans behaved as if something significant was accomplished, but it was embarrassing.”

Both the Big Ten and Mid-American Conference confirmed the clock controversy, but Michigan fans’ reaction was seen as exaggerated. The team now faces Oklahoma with questions about Underwood’s future as quarterback.

The upcoming game against Oklahoma at Michigan Stadium will be aired on FOX.