Michigan appears ready to roll out Tommy Carr as its starter against Oregon, but this quarterback situation still has a Bryce Underwood twist to it.
According to both On3’s Pete Nakos and ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Carr is expected to get the nod this weekend in Eugene. Thamel also reported that both quarterbacks are expected to play, which means Underwood should still have a role even if Carr opens the game.
That lines up with what was said Monday night on Inside Michigan Football, when Kyle Whittingham made it clear the Wolverines already knew their plan but weren’t eager to let it leak.
"To be determined, but there was consideration about whether to insert Bryce and try to create something [against Michigan State]," Whittingham said on Monday. "And after discussion, it was determined to stay the course with what we had in that particular game, but going forward, we'll take a look at everything again and see what gives us the best chance to win, as it always comes down to that."
Underwood’s first start came in a rough spot against Indiana, and he looked like a true freshman. Michigan then turned to Carr, and two weeks ago at Rutgers, he responded with a big step forward. Carr threw for 266 yards and ran for 54 more, good enough to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week and lock in the starting job for the foreseeable future.
But last weekend against rival Michigan State, Carr hit a wall. He threw two interceptions and finished with a 39.0 QBR. Afterward, Whittingham said the staff had considered putting Underwood in, though the offense ultimately stayed with Carr.
The picture around the offense is getting even murkier. Michigan ranks 132nd in the country on offense, and the program fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck on Sunday. Offensive line coach Jim Harding will handle play-calling duties while the search for a new coordinator gets underway.
Underwood’s usage against Oregon remains unclear, but he has already been part of the rotation this season. He took two snaps against Indiana when Carr made his first start. If Carr gets off to a shaky start on Saturday, Underwood could be back on the field quickly.
That said, Underwood’s own turnover issues were part of why he was pulled in the first place. In six starts this season, he has thrown for 924 yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions.
In Other News...
Michigan's Rough Season Just Led To Another Troubling Departure
Michigans uneven season has already brought one major change on the staff, with offensive coordinator Jason Beck dismissed after a disappointing 5-4 start. The on-field frustration has now spilled into the roster, too, as defensive end Nate Marshall has left the program and is expected to enter the transfer portal.
Marshall arrived with plenty of recruiting buzz and had shown signs of progress under the new coaching staff, but his role had started to shrink in recent weeks. For a Michigan team trying to steady itself in November, losing a player with his pedigree only adds another layer of uncertainty to a season that has already been hard to define. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Fans Can Read One Troubling Sign In Kyle Whittingham's Future
The chatter around Michigan footballs next coaching move has picked up because the schools athletic director search appears to be moving faster than expected. With Warde Manuel set to step down at the end of December, the timing has only added to the sense that the program is lining up its next major decision sooner rather than later, especially after a disappointing 2026 season left plenty of frustration in Ann Arbor.
Kyle Whittinghams future has become part of that conversation, and not in a comfortable way for Michigan fans. The concern is that the accelerated pace of the athletic director process could point to a change coming before the year is out, rather than waiting for the calendar to run its course. For a fan base already looking for answers, the overlap between the AD search and the coachs status is the troubling sign worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
J.P. Estrella Is Forcing His Way Into Michigans Frontcourt Picture
Graduate forward J.P. Estrellas return to New England came with a little more meaning than a typical nonconference trip, and he made sure it mattered once the game tipped against No. 4 Connecticut. With family in the building and familiar surroundings all around him, Estrella gave Michigan a needed lift by holding his own defensively and helping on the glass, especially with junior center Moustapha Thiam limited by illness.
For a Wolverines frontcourt still sorting out roles, that kind of effort only strengthens Estrellas case for a bigger share of the rotation. The lingering issue is whether he can stay on the floor long enough to build on it, because foul trouble has already been a recurring problem and could continue to shape how much Michigan trusts him in the games ahead. [Read more 🡒]