Michigan has only four road games on its 2026 schedule, but the early returns on Bryce Underwood away from Ann Arbor are hard to ignore.
The Wolverines already dropped their first road trip, falling 20-14 at Minnesota last Saturday. They still have games left at Rutgers, Oregon and Ohio State, and Michigan will be a massive underdog in two of those trips - Oregon and Ohio State. If the Wolverines are going to survive those environments, they need better quarterback play than they’ve gotten so far from Underwood.
The bigger issue is that this isn’t just about one rough afternoon. Underwood’s road numbers have been shaky going back to last season, when he completed 57% of his passes away from home for 1,035 yards with four passing touchdowns and three interceptions. His latest outing only added to the concern: against Minnesota, he went 10-of-21 for 101 yards and threw two interceptions.
That made for seven road starts in his career, and the trend line hasn’t moved in the right direction. His showing against Minnesota looked a lot like his first career road game against Oklahoma, when he finished 9-of-24 for 142 yards.
There are plenty of factors around him. Michigan’s pass protection has not been steady since Underwood took over as a true freshman last year, and some have problems with offensive coordinator Jason Beck’s scheme.
Still, the road struggles have become impossible to separate from the quarterback himself. He has not shown that he can travel into a hostile setting and deliver the kind of performance Michigan needs to win big games.
That was true at Minnesota, and it was true at Northwestern at Wrigley Field too, where he threw two interceptions in a 24-22 Michigan win sealed by a last-second field goal.
The numbers are still from a relatively small sample, but they’re not flattering. And they raise the question of whether Underwood will keep the starting job for the rest of the 2026 season, or whether Michigan will turn to true freshman backup Tommy Carr in search of someone who can win both at home and on the road.
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Michigan Finally Has A Passing Game Bright Spot Fans Can Believe In
For a Michigan passing game that has spent plenty of time searching for a reliable spark, JJ Buchanan has given Bryce Underwood a clear place to go early and often. The sophomore wide receiver, a transfer from Utah, has quickly become the Wolverines most productive receiver, leading the team in receiving yards and touchdowns through the first five games while piling up a record-setting debut and multiple 100-yard outings.
That kind of start was enough to put Buchanan on the midseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to one of college footballs top receivers. For Michigan, the bigger takeaway is less about the award buzz and more about the fact that the offense finally has a pass-catcher who is shaping defenses and changing how the Wolverines can attack on a week-to-week basis. [Read more 🡒]
Jake Butt Just Said What Michigan Fans Fear About This Offense
Jake Butt did not hold back when he looked at Michigans offense on Big Ten Network, and his criticism landed because it hit on the same unease plenty of fans have been feeling. The former Wolverine and current analyst said the unit still lacks a real identity, pointing to confusion in the blocking schemes and a broader sense that the coaching staff has not settled on how it wants to use its players. He also praised former offensive coordinator Chip Lindseys approach from last season, a reminder that the current struggles are not just about execution but about direction.
The quarterback discussion is now part of the conversation, too, with Butt questioning Bryce Underwoods decision-making and suggesting Tommy Carr might be the better option. For a Michigan offense trying to find traction, that kind of public assessment only sharpens the pressure on the staff to define what this group is supposed to be. Butts bottom line was clear enough: if the Wolverines want to get moving, they need to lean back into their downhill running game and stop searching for answers in a system that has not yet given them one. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Bye Week Puts Kyle Whittingham's Toughest QB Call Front And Center
Michigan is at its bye week, which makes this a natural pause to take stock of the quarterback situation and the choices sitting in front of Kyle Whittingham. Bryce Underwood has been the starter and a team captain, but his play has come with the kind of uneven stretches that force a coaching staff to look hard at every option. Behind him, Tommy Carr has given the Wolverines a glimpse of promise in limited action, enough to keep the conversation alive without settling it.
For Whittingham, the hard part is not just evaluating performance, but weighing what a change would mean for the room, the offense and the stretch run ahead. Michigan has not announced any decision, and the bye week only adds to the scrutiny because there is time to think but no game to hide behind. The next move at quarterback is still open, and for a team trying to steady itself, that uncertainty hangs over everything. [Read more 🡒]