Michigan’s offense has spent much of the early season searching for a rhythm, but JJ Buchanan has been the one steady jolt inside the struggle. The sophomore pass catcher has turned himself into Bryce Underwood’s top option, and on October 5 that rise was rewarded when the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation placed him on the midseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award.
The honor goes to college football’s most outstanding receiver regardless of position, and Buchanan’s name on the list fits the way he has played so far. He arrived in Ann Arbor from Utah with a strong reputation, but Michigan quickly saw a chance to unlock even more by moving him from the tight end role he played with the Utes into a full-time wide receiver spot.
That decision has paid off fast. At 6 feet 4 inches and 218 pounds, Buchanan brings a rare blend of size, speed and flexibility that has made him hard to handle on the outside. As a freshman at Utah, he led the nation in receiving yards among freshman tight ends, and Michigan clearly believed his skill set could stretch defenses in a different way.
His first game in a Wolverine uniform made the point loud and clear. Against Western Michigan, Buchanan ripped off 126 receiving yards and a touchdown, the most receiving yards by a Michigan player in a debut since Dick Rifenburg in 1944.
He has kept rolling since then. Through five games, Buchanan leads Michigan with 446 receiving yards and four touchdown catches, and he ranks second on the team with 24 receptions.
His biggest performance came in Week 4 against Iowa, when he posted 130 yards and two touchdowns. Buchanan repeatedly came through on contested catches and tough sideline grabs, and that outing gave him his second 100-yard game of the season.
The connection with Bryce Underwood has been a major part of the story. For a young quarterback stepping into the spotlight, Buchanan has become the kind of reliable target who can win 50-50 balls and create problems for defensive backs all over the field.
For Buchanan, the Biletnikoff watch list is another sign of how far he has come in a short time. The drive behind it, though, traces back to his family, including his older sister Trinity, a star soccer player at Texas A&M who has long pushed his competitive edge.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
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 🡒]