Ever since Michigan turned to Tommy Carr at halftime of the Penn State game, the Bryce Underwood situation has felt headed in one direction.
That feeling got stronger Monday after Carr made his second start and delivered a 28-21 win over Rutgers. He completed 22-of-27 passes for 266 yards, added 54 rushing yards and scored a touchdown, and Kyle Whittingham said Carr would remain the starter moving forward for the “foreseeable future.”
What that means after this season is still unclear. A lot will depend on how Carr handles the final month. But if Underwood does hit the portal, it’s tough to picture him back in a Michigan uniform next year if Whittingham is still in charge.
If that happens, a handful of programs stand out as the most intriguing landing spots.
Ole Miss makes immediate sense because Trinidad Chambliss is moving on after the season, leaving the Rebels in need of a new quarterback. Offensive coordinator John David Becker has done well with Chambliss, and the system appears to fit better for Underwood’s skill set.
At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Underwood has elite arm talent and 4.4/4.5 speed. The Oklahoma game showed what he can do as a runner, and in a read-option setup, he could really take off.
In the old Urban Meyer system, he looks like the kind of quarterback who would thrive. His rough season makes you wonder how much the move away from Chip Lindsey slowed his development.
In a better fit, Underwood could still become a strong quarterback, and Ole Miss could land a five-star talent without paying top dollar.
Missouri is another spot that stands out, and this one ties directly back to Chip Lindsey. It hinges on what Austin Simmons decides to do. Simmons is a senior, though he 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 hasn’t offered much as a runner, pairing Underwood with Lindsey would be interesting. There’s familiarity there, and Lindsey’s best work with Underwood came when Sherrone Moore wasn’t coaching, which made him less conservative.
Simmons likely returns, but Underwood already proved he can handle a backup role without creating issues. He may not want to sit for a year, but that kind of path worked for Dante Moore, who was trending toward being a top-five pick before his recent injury. Underwood could spend a season learning, reset in a quieter setting and still have two years left to prove himself.
Kentucky also belongs in the conversation. The Wildcats don’t have the NIL resources some SEC rivals do, but that may not matter here since Underwood has already cashed in on NIL. The next move should be about getting him ready for the next level.
He is not on track to be a draftable quarterback right now, so the priority has to be changing that trajectory. Will Stein could help do it. He guided Moore last season and helped turn him into a player being discussed as the potential No. 1 overall pick.
Kenny Minchey is playing at a high level for Kentucky, with 16 touchdown passes and one interception, and he also has another year left. That could mean Underwood would have to wait. Still, that was the same setup that worked for Moore with the same coach, and if Underwood is willing to take that route, it would make sense for both sides.
Oregon is another logical fit. The Ducks have already brought in two former five-star quarterbacks through the transfer portal, so why not a third? It worked with Dante Moore.
Moore is done for the rest of this season, and it’s unclear whether he returns or enters the NFL draft. Dylan Raiola’s future is also unsettled, since it’s not clear whether he can play well enough to lock down the job for next season.
If Moore leaves, Underwood and Raiola could battle for the starting role. Underwood is a different type of quarterback - less polished as a passer, but far more dangerous as a runner.
That could even open the door for both to play early on, at least until Underwood grows more comfortable throwing the ball. Oregon also just fired its offensive coordinator, so that hire will matter a lot in the quarterback chase.
If Moore comes back and Raiola transfers elsewhere, Underwood could literally follow Moore’s path.
USC rounds out the list. Jayden Maiava is a redshirt senior, which makes this his fifth year, and there doesn’t appear to be an obvious successor waiting in line.
The Trojans have talented quarterbacks on the roster, but Riley has a track record of getting more out of quarterbacks, including Jalen Hurts. Underwood would have to learn a new system, but Riley has shown he can work with dual-threat quarterbacks and get the most out of that kind of talent.
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