Michigan’s quarterback picture has changed fast, and Bryce Underwood suddenly looks like a name to watch in the transfer portal.
After Kyle Whittingham turned to Tommy Carr at halftime of the Penn State game, the signs pointed in one direction. Then came Monday’s announcement after Carr’s second start - a 28-21 win over Rutgers, with Carr going 22-of-27 for 266 yards while also rushing for 54 yards and a touchdown - that he would remain the starter moving forward for the “foreseeable future.”
What happens after this season is still up in the air, and it will depend on how Carr handles the final month. But if Underwood does leave, it’s hard to picture him back in a Michigan uniform next season if Whittingham is still running the show.
If that door opens, these are five destinations that make a lot of sense.
Ole Miss stands out because Trinidad Chambliss is moving on after this season, leaving a vacancy at quarterback. Offensive coordinator John David Becker has already done solid work with Chambliss, and the system looks like a cleaner match for Underwood’s skill set.
At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Underwood brings elite arm talent and 4.4/4.5 speed. His performance against Oklahoma showed what he can do as a runner, and in a read-option setup, he has the tools to pop.
In a system closer to the old Urban Meyer model, he looks like the kind of quarterback who could really take off. The thought here is simple: in the right environment, Underwood could still become a successful quarterback, and Ole Miss could land a five-star talent at a discount.
Missouri may be the cleanest fit of all because of Chip Lindsey. There’s familiarity there, and that matters. The situation hinges on Austin Simmons, who is a senior but has a fifth year available if he wants it.
Simmons has thrown 16 touchdown passes and only two interceptions this season, and while he hasn’t offered much as a runner, pairing Underwood with Lindsey would be interesting. Lindsey’s best games with Underwood came when Sherrone Moore wasn’t coaching, which opened the door for a less conservative approach.
Simmons probably returns, but Underwood has already shown he can handle being a backup without creating issues. He might not want to sit, but Dante Moore did, and that path worked.
Moore was trending toward being a top-five pick before his recent injury.
That’s part of the appeal here: Underwood could spend a year learning, get back to the basics, and still have two seasons left to prove himself.
Kentucky is another SEC option that fits the same general idea. The Wildcats don’t have the NIL resources some of their conference rivals do, but Underwood has already made his money in that area, so the next stop may be more about development than anything else.
He is not currently on track to be a draftable quarterback, which makes the next move especially important. Will Stein could help change that. Stein coached Moore last season and helped push him into the conversation as a potential No. 1 overall pick.
Kenny Minchey is rolling at Kentucky, with 16 touchdown passes and just one interception, and he also has another year left. That means Underwood might have to wait. Still, that same setup worked for Moore under the same coach, and if Underwood is willing to take that route, it makes plenty of sense.
Oregon has already shown it isn’t afraid to chase former five-star quarterbacks, so why not a third? The Ducks made it work with Dante Moore, who is out for the rest of this season. It’s unclear whether Moore returns or heads to the NFL draft, and Dylan Raiola’s hold on the job for next season isn’t settled either.
If Moore leaves, Underwood and Raiola could battle for the starting job. Underwood is a different kind of quarterback - less polished as a passer, but far more dangerous as a runner - and Oregon could even split things early while he develops more confidence throwing the ball.
The timing of the offensive coordinator change matters here, because that hire will have a big impact on quarterback recruiting. If Moore comes back and Raiola ends up transferring, Underwood could end up following Moore’s path almost exactly.
USC rounds out the list, and the appeal is obvious. Jayden Maiava has no extra year left; he’s a redshirt senior in his fifth season. There isn’t a clear heir apparent either, even with talented quarterbacks waiting behind him.
Lincoln Riley has already shown what he can do with quarterbacks, especially dual-threat types, and he’d know how to get the most out of Underwood. Riley also helped Jalen Hurts reach another level, and Underwood would have three years to work with in that system.
It would require another new offense, but the upside is easy to see. Riley would be betting on himself, and the pairing would be one of the more intriguing quarterback matches on the board.
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