Bryce Underwood’s Michigan future looks shaky enough that the transfer portal conversation is no longer theoretical. After Kyle Whittingham turned to Tommy Carr at halftime of the Penn State game, the momentum shifted. Then came Monday’s announcement after Carr’s second start, a 28-21 win over Rutgers, that he would remain the starter moving forward for the “foreseeable future.”
Carr backed that up with production, completing 22-of-27 passes for 266 yards while also running for 54 yards and a touchdown. What happens after this season is still unknown, and it will hinge on how Carr handles the final month. But if Underwood does end up leaving Michigan, there are a handful of landing spots that stand out.
Ole Miss is one of them, and maybe the cleanest fit on paper. Trinidad Chambliss is moving on after the season, which leaves a vacancy at quarterback.
Offensive coordinator John David Becker has already done solid work with Chambliss, and the system looks like a better match for Underwood’s skill set. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, with elite arm talent and 4.4/4.5 speed, he brings a rare package.
The Oklahoma game showed what he can do as a runner, and in a read-option system, he could be dangerous. The idea here is simple: put him in a scheme that fits, and a five-star talent could still take off.
Missouri makes plenty of sense too, especially because of Chip Lindsey. This one depends on Austin Simmons, who is a senior but would have a fifth year available if he wants it.
Simmons has thrown 16 touchdown passes and only two interceptions this season, and while he has not done much as a runner, the pairing with Lindsey is what makes this interesting. There is familiarity there, and Lindsey’s best games with Underwood came when Sherrone Moore wasn’t coaching, which made him less conservative.
Simmons probably returns, but Underwood has already shown he can handle being a backup without creating issues. He may not want to sit, but Dante Moore did, and that path worked until Moore’s recent injury after he had been trending toward a top-five pick.
Underwood could spend a year learning, then still have two seasons left to prove himself.
Kentucky is another SEC option that fits the development angle. The Wildcats do not have the NIL war chest of some conference rivals, but that may not matter in Underwood’s case because he has already cashed in on NIL.
At this point, the next stop should be about getting him ready for the next level. He is not currently on track to be a draftable quarterback, so the trajectory needs to change, and Will Stein could help do that.
Stein guided Moore last season and helped get him mentioned as a potential No. 1 overall pick. Kentucky’s Kenny Minchey is playing lights out, with 16 touchdown passes and one interception, and he has another year left, so Underwood might have to wait.
Still, that is the same setup that worked for Moore with the same coach.
Oregon is another intriguing possibility, especially given the Ducks’ recent history with former five-star quarterbacks. They have already landed two through the portal, so why not a third?
It worked with Dante Moore, who is out for the rest of this season. Whether he returns or enters the NFL draft is unclear, and Dylan Raiola’s hold on the job for next season is not settled either.
If Moore leaves, Underwood and Raiola could battle for the starting role. Underwood is not as polished a passer, but he is a more dangerous runner, and there is even a world where both quarterbacks could play until Underwood settles in.
Oregon also just fired its offensive coordinator, so that hire will matter a lot in any quarterback chase. If Moore comes back and Raiola transfers, Underwood could end up following Moore’s path almost exactly.
USC rounds out the list. Jayden Maiava will not have another year left; he is a redshirt senior, making this his fifth season.
There is no obvious heir apparent, even with talented quarterbacks waiting behind him. Lincoln Riley has already shown what he can do with quarterbacks, most notably Jalen Hurts, and he has had success with dual-threat passers.
Underwood would need to learn a new system, but Riley would know how to use his tools. With three years of eligibility, Underwood would give Riley a chance to bet on himself and on a quarterback who could be positioned to succeed.
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