Michigan’s bye week has put Kyle Whittingham in the middle of a familiar kind of storm: a fanbase hungry for answers, a quarterback drawing heat, and a season that still feels like it’s searching for itself.
And if there’s one move everyone seems ready to demand, it’s the simplest one - bench Bryce Underwood.
That kind of reaction always gains traction when an offense stalls. Michigan managed only seven points against Minnesota, and that followed a game against Iowa in which Underwood showed real progress.
He threw two touchdown passes in that loss and, for a moment, looked comfortable running the offense. Then came the Minnesota game, and with it, a wave of louder calls for change.
But the easy answer is rarely the cleanest one.
Underwood entered Michigan as the face of hope after quarterback play helped sink the 2024 season. He also walked into a rough situation as a true freshman, with limited competition behind him and no real chance to sit and learn because the other options were either injured or not ready. That forced him into action before he was fully prepared, and the bad habits that showed up early never really disappeared during his freshman season.
Now the debate has shifted to Tommy Carr, Michigan’s backup quarterback. Carr is also a true freshman, and he has only one meaningful series on his college résumé.
That came in Week 3 against UTEP, after Michigan had already started to pull away. He made the most of it, driving the field and hitting Salesi Moa for an impressive touchdown pass.
That brief flash, along with a spring game cameo, has been enough for some to push for Carr to get the job.
Still, the gap in experience matters. Underwood has far more evidence behind him, even if that evidence has been uneven.
He’s had stretches where he looked unplayable, including against Western Michigan and Minnesota. Against Oklahoma, he was asked to manage the game.
Against UTEP and Iowa, he showed more.
He was also voted a team captain in the offseason, which is usually the kind of honor reserved for upperclassmen. The staff spent the entire offseason trying to figure out how to get the most out of him.
That’s why the real decision for Whittingham isn’t about making a statement to the outside world. It’s about whether he can block out the noise and stick with the quarterback who still gives Michigan the best chance to grow into what it wants to be.
Benching Underwood would be the popular move in some circles. It would also hand the blame to one player and let the rest of the problems drift away untouched.
The better path, at least for now, is to stay with Underwood and bank on the upside he has flashed in small doses. If that doesn’t pay off, Michigan can reset next season and open up a real competition with Carr and whoever else is in the quarterback room.
For now, the biggest call Whittingham has to make is the hardest one: ignore the outside noise and stay the course.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Bryce Underwood's Road Struggles Are Becoming A Real Michigan Problem
Michigan still has four road games left on the 2026 schedule, and the list does not offer much breathing room. Trips to Oregon and Ohio State are among the most demanding tests the Wolverines will face, which is why Bryce Underwoods discomfort away from Ann Arbor has become such a central concern for a team trying to stay in the Big Ten race.
Underwoods numbers on the road already tell part of the story. He completed 57% of his passes in road games last season, then followed that with a rough showing at Minnesota, where he hit just 47.6% and threw multiple interceptions. If that trend lingers into the fall, Michigan will have to weigh whether its starting quarterback can hold up in the places where the season is most likely to be decided. [Read more 🡒]