Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood looks headed for a reset after being benched for the “ foreseeable future” by head coach Kyle Whittingham.
With freshman Tommy Carr now getting the rest of the season to sort things out, Underwood’s path at Michigan has suddenly narrowed. Carr, the grandson of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr and the younger brother ot Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, may not have carried the same recruiting hype, but he’s shown plenty in his own right.
Michigan is 1-1 with Carr as the starter, and he’s completed 72.1% of his passes for 503 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception. He’s also added 114 rushing yards and three scores.
That leaves Underwood in a tough spot. The former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class arrived with a massive NIL package after choosing Michigan over LSU, but the production hasn’t matched the pedigree. In two seasons, he’s flashed the elite athleticism and talent that made him such a prized prospect, yet this year he’s completed just 58.1% of his passes with five touchdowns and six interceptions.
Unless injuries open the door again, the most likely outcome is that Underwood spends the rest of this season on the bench before looking for a new home in the transfer portal.
If that happens, NIL will almost certainly shape the market. Three possible landing spots stand out.
Oregon is the most natural fit on paper. Dan Lanning has built a reputation as a “quarterback whisperer” and has already helped several passers find another gear in Eugene, including Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel, Dante Moore and Dylan Raiola.
If Underwood wants a place where quarterbacks have consistently taken off, Oregon belongs on the short list. The idea here is simple: if he’s willing to wait, he could even look at being a backup there in 2027.
LSU also makes sense as a reunion possibility. Before flipping to Michigan, Underwood had been committed to Brian Kelly and the Tigers for nearly a year, so there’s already a connection there.
Lane Kiffin and LSU aren’t shy about using NIL to land talent, and if Sam Leavitt declares for the 2027 NFL Draft, the Tigers could circle back on Underwood. The staff in Baton Rouge is different now, but that may not hurt his case.
Then there’s Northwestern, where former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly is now the offensive coordinator and has the Wildcats scoring 33.6 points per game, second only to Ohio State, where he held the same job in 2024. Kelly is doing it with Michigan State transfer Aidan Chiles at quarterback, and while Chiles is a good athlete, he’s nowhere near Underwood’s level in that department. Chiles will be out of eligibility in 2027, and if Kelly remains in place, Underwood’s upside could make for a very intriguing fit.
In Other News...
Oregons Injury Problems Make These Transfer Departures Sting Even More
Oregons injury issues this season have already forced the Ducks to keep patching together pieces on offense, with Dante Moore sidelined for the entire year and other key contributors missing time along the way. The defense has been a little steadier in terms of health, but the overall roster picture has still been complicated by the kind of attrition that makes every lost scholarship player feel a little more expensive in hindsight.
That backdrop makes Week 9 feel especially frustrating when a few former Ducks pop up and thrive elsewhere. Kamar Mothudi and Keith Brown were among the ex-Oregon players who turned in notable performances for their new teams, a reminder that the Ducks are not only managing injuries in the present but also watching depth walk out the door. For a program trying to stay afloat through a difficult season, those departures have a way of stinging more when the current roster is already stretched thin. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces A New Oregon Twist In This QB Battle
Matayo Uiagalelei is already looking at Oregons trip to Ohio State as something different, and not just because it will be his first time inside the Buckeyes stadium. The Ducks edge rusher spent time previewing the matchup this week, with a particular eye on the quarterback situation that has changed the feel of the game on both sides and added another layer to a meeting that already carries plenty of weight.
Uiagalelei also pointed to the work Oregon has gotten from Dante Moore on scout team, even while Moore has been dealing with a concussion, as part of the teams preparation. From there, his attention turned to Ohio States offense, its key playmakers and the mindset Oregon is bringing into the game, leaving the bigger question of how the Ducks will handle the Buckeyes latest twist still hanging over the matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Created Real Momentum With A New 2027 Receiver Target
Oregons receiver board for 2027 got a fresh jolt when the Ducks extended a late offer to Relando Jefferson IV and brought him to campus soon after. Jefferson, who recently decommitted from Fresno State, has already started drawing attention from multiple programs, but the Oregon visit gave him a closer look at what the Ducks are building and how they sell that vision to young pass-catchers.
For Jefferson, the trip included seeing a game and hearing Dan Lannings postgame speech, details that clearly made an impression as he took in the programs atmosphere. With his recruitment still open and more schools in the mix, Oregon has put itself in position to matter here, and the fact that the Ducks moved quickly after his decommitment suggests this is one to watch going forward. [Read more 🡒]