Kyle Whittingham’s comments after Michigan’s shaky opener have only added fuel to the speculation around Bryce Underwood’s future as the Wolverines’ quarterback.
After Michigan struggled through a messy game against Western Michigan, Whittingham made it clear he is not treating Underwood as untouchable. “He’s our QB right now. It’s not something that’s infinite.”
That line says plenty. Underwood did little to calm concerns in Week 1, turning the ball over twice and looking rough for most of the afternoon. The performance came on the heels of an ugly showing against Ohio State last year, when he threw for just 63 yards in a loss that the Buckeyes controlled.
The bigger question now is whether Michigan would actually turn to someone else before facing Ohio State again. Underwood sitting would change the look of that matchup, even if it wouldn’t necessarily make the Buckeyes’ job impossible. Tommy Carr remains more of an unknown, and that uncertainty would at least force Ohio State to prepare for a different kind of challenge.
Still, Whittingham’s wording suggests a change could be coming sooner rather than later. If Underwood doesn’t bounce back in Week 2, Oklahoma could be the game that pushes Michigan to make a move and end his run as the starter.
What makes the whole situation look even worse is how little Michigan showed offensively against Western Michigan. Whittingham said nothing the Broncos did on defense caught him off guard, but the Wolverines still had trouble moving the ball for most of the game.
For Ohio State fans, that has to look like a gift. The Buckeyes rolled past Ball State 56-3 in Week 1 and looked every bit like the nation’s top team, while Michigan’s side of the rivalry looked unstable again. Michigan also spent heavily in NIL to land Underwood after he flipped from LSU, and so far that investment has not delivered.
There’s no guarantee Underwood is done, but the door is clearly open. If Michigan keeps stumbling, his time as the starter could be running out fast.
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Ohio State Faces A More Dangerous Texas Test Than Last Year
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For Ohio State, the challenge is not just the venue or the buildup, but the version of Texas waiting on the other side. Arch Manning gives the Longhorns a new layer at quarterback, while new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp adds a familiar edge to that side of the ball. For a Buckeye team used to measuring itself against the nations best, this one feels less like another early heavyweight game and more like a true test of how much has changed since the last time these teams lined up. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Kienholz Just Sparked An Ohio State QB Debate
Lincoln Kienholz spent enough time around Ohio State to know how unforgiving the quarterback conversation can be there, and his latest outing at Louisville gave the discussion a fresh jolt. In his debut against Ole Miss, the former Buckeye showed the kind of production that turns heads quickly, topping 300 yards and throwing three touchdowns while looking comfortable as both a passer and a runner.
For Ohio State fans, the appeal is obvious because it feeds into the never-ending question of what might have been and what the Buckeyes missed when Kienholz moved on. His path also says something about the fit in college football: sometimes a player needs a different setup, a cleaner runway and a coach like Jeff Brohm to let the full skill set show up on game day, even as the foundation built in Columbus still shapes how he leads and handles the position. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Left Fans With One Big Concern After Its Opener
Ohio States opener came with the usual September mix of hope and uncertainty, only this time there were more moving parts than usual. The Buckeyes rolled out significant roster changes and even new uniforms, and while Julian Sayin gave the offense a steady presence and punctuated his day with a memorable touchdown scramble, the bigger picture still felt unfinished. The offensive line had its share of hiccups, especially at right tackle, which made it hard to get a clean read on how settled this group really is.
The run game only added to the uncertainty, because the backfield usage looked different than many expected and the offense never fully settled into a predictable rhythm. On the other side of the depth chart, the quarterback situation behind Sayin is still not clear, with Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair continuing their battle for the backup role. For a team with championship expectations, the opener did not erase the lingering questions so much as sharpen them. [Read more 🡒]