Story perspectives

Underwood’s 47-yard Hail Mary Lifts Team Past Western Michigan

By Drooid · Sep 13, 2026, 2:10 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Underwood threw a 47-yard Hail Mary touchdown to JJ Buchanan after officials added one second, winning 13-12 over Western Michigan.
He completed 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the game.
Coach Kyle Whittingham said Underwood’s starting role is not infinite and he must improve.
Underwood’s NIL contract is valued between $10 million and $12 million, roughly $3 million per year.

History

Historical Context

After the NCAA coined “student-athlete” in 1953 to protect amateurism, California’s 2019 Fair Pay to Play Act and the Supreme Court’s 2021 Alston ruling dismantled those limits, prompting the NCAA’s July 1 2021 NIL policy. Utah’s first $10 million NIL contract set a benchmark that Jordan Underwood’s $10-$12 million deal now mirrors, reshaping college recruiting economics.

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Story summary

Underwood threw a 47-yard Hail Mary touchdown to JJ Buchanan after officials added one second, winning 13-12 over Western Michigan.
He completed 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the game.
Coach Kyle Whittingham said Underwood’s starting role is not infinite and he must improve.
Underwood’s NIL contract is valued between $10 million and $12 million, roughly $3 million per year.

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