Michigan is giving Tommy Carr another week at quarterback, and that keeps one of college football’s strangest family stories rolling.
With Carr set to start against Rutgers on Saturday, the younger brother of Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr will once again be under center for a Power 4 program. That means the grandsons of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr are both running offenses at the same time, with CJ at Notre Dame and Tommy at Michigan.
On3’s Pete Nakos reported Wednesday that Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham is expected to stay with Carr instead of Bryce Underwood for the Rutgers game.
Underwood has had a rough season, throwing for 924 yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions. His rushing production has dropped off too, with 222 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground while averaging 3.6 yards per carry.
Carr got his first career start last week against defending national champion Indiana, and the Wolverines pushed Curt Cignetti’s team to overtime before falling 13-6. How much of that result came from Carr’s play is up for debate, especially with Michigan’s defense still carrying a heavy load even as the offense remains a mess.
In that game, Carr handled the bulk of the snaps while Underwood was limited to packaged plays. Carr finished 20-of-32 for 167 yards and one interception.
Underwood did not attempt a pass. Carr also put the ball on the ground on a pitch that looked more like a mistake from a true freshman.
Before the Indiana game, former Alabama coach and broadcaster Nick Saban said the quarterback battle could help both players.
“I think competition is good,” Saban said on The Pat McAfee Show. “I think that complacency is actually bad, and when somebody thinks they’re not responsible [to] perform well, that’s probably not good for you as an individual, and it’s probably not good for your teammates who are looking at you to play a little better and do a little more for your team.”
Michigan also made a change in Week 7 against Penn State, when Whittingham went to Carr in the second half. Underwood sat out the rest of the game, and Carr helped close it out. He completed 5-of-7 passes for 47 yards and added 36 rushing yards and a touchdown, which ended up being the game-winner.
The brothers’ story would have felt even bigger back when Notre Dame and Michigan were annual opponents, but it still stands out now: two siblings starting for Power 4 teams at the same time. During Notre Dame’s bye week, CJ went to watch Tommy make his first career start. This week, both teams are playing in the same window, so the family quarterback saga gets another chapter.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Is Still Waiting On A Return That Could Change Its Defense
Brauntae Johnsons absence has already stretched well beyond what Notre Dame initially expected, leaving the Fighting Irish without a safety many around the program believed would be back in a matter of weeks. Instead, the injury has kept him sidelined for more than half the season, and the defense has had to keep moving without one of its more promising pieces.
The outlook around the program has stayed upbeat, though, with teammates and coaches continuing to sound hopeful about his recovery. Notre Dame is eyeing a possible return for the Miami or SMU games, and if Johnson does get back in time, it could give the defense a noticeable lift at just the right moment. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Is Doing What It Takes To Keep A 5-Star Locked In
When a five-star recruit takes a bye week, Notre Dame is making sure the relationship stays front and center. Marcus Freeman and Charlie Partridge recently visited Abraham Sesay during his high school break, a reminder that the Irish are treating the 2027 edge rusher like a priority long after his June 2026 commitment. Partridge even stayed to watch a game after Sesay exited early with an injury, a small gesture that still says plenty about how seriously Notre Dame is approaching the recruitment.
Sesay has plenty of reason to stay on the programs radar, too. The five-star from the 2027 class chose Notre Dame over several major programs, and his profile keeps rising with a Navy All-American honor coming at a school pep rally before he heads to the East vs. West All-American Bowl in January 2027. For the Irish, the next challenge is less about winning him over and more about making sure that commitment keeps holding as the spotlight gets brighter. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Has Too Much NFL Talent For This Start
Even after a loss to BYU, there is no shortage of NFL-caliber talent on Notre Dames roster, and ESPNs Mel Kiper underscored that in his latest 2027 mock draft. Kiper placed five Irish players among the top five at their positions, a reminder that this team is stocked with prospects who are already drawing national attention. Leonard Moore came in as the No. 1 cornerback, while Brauntae Johnson was slotted as the top safety despite limited playtime this season.
For Notre Dame, that kind of preseason and early-season respect only raises the pressure to translate potential into results. Marcus Freemans demeanor after the BYU loss suggested a coach who knows the standard is higher than what the Irish showed, and the roster rankings only sharpen the spotlight on a group expected to look much further along. The talent is obvious, but the challenge now is proving it in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]