Kyle Whittingham has one clear reason to stay the course at quarterback. Matt Campbell doesn’t have nearly as strong a case.
That was the split on Monday, when Whittingham was asked about Bryce Underwood and kept the door shut on a quarterback change. The first-year Michigan coach acknowledged that backup Tommy Carr “got some good reps” during the bye week, but said Underwood is “still our guy.” Given Underwood’s age, ceiling and the money already sunk into him, that stance makes sense.
Campbell’s situation with Rocco Becht looks different. After Penn State’s Week 5 loss to Northwestern, Campbell was asked whether a change was on the table, and his answer carried the same basic message.
Becht then posted his best game of the season against USC, even if the offense still managed only six second-half points in a 31-23 loss. Campbell clearly trusts him, and a long leash still appears to be in place.
But the logic for standing pat isn’t the same in both places. With Underwood, Michigan is dealing with a 19-year-old sophomore who hasn’t taken the leap expected of a former five-star quarterback, but still owns elite physical tools and massive long-term value to the program.
Underwood was the No. 1 quarterback in the 2025 class, and Michigan paid $12 million to flip him from LSU. That kind of investment changes the conversation.
Even if the production hasn’t matched the promise, the staff has to be certain he isn’t the answer before moving on.
The sunk cost fallacy fits neatly here: “our tendency to follow through on an endeavor if we have already invested time, money, and effort into it, whether or not the current costs outweigh the benefits” (NIH).
Underwood has not been good for two years, but his profile still stands out. At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, he has arm talent, size and enough mobility to do damage as a runner.
If he ever reaches his ceiling, he could become one of the best players in the country. He also remains just 19 years old in his second season, and former head coach Sherrone Moore did not have a quarterbacks coach on staff to help develop him in 2025.
That matters, because bad habits can pile up fast without the right guidance.
He also has three more years of eligibility, though it’s not clear all of that time would be spent at Michigan if he stays in college football that long. Even with a season that already looks lost in the race for the College Football Playoff, there is still a development case to be made.
Becht doesn’t come with that same argument.
Penn State’s offense has plenty of issues beyond quarterback. The interior offensive line, especially left guard Trevor Buhr and center Brock Riker, has been a problem.
The running back room hasn’t produced a clear lead option. And without Koby Howard, there hasn’t been much separation among the pass catchers.
Still, Becht is the most obvious place for Campbell to look if he wants to spark something with younger players. He doesn’t have untapped physical upside to justify patience.
He doesn’t have the kind of major financial investment that can shape a decision. And he has no eligibility left after this season.
That reality makes the next step pretty straightforward. Penn State is not getting into the College Football Playoff, and it may not even reach a bowl game. Campbell and general manager Derek Hoodjer are going to have to find a new quarterback this offseason no matter what Becht does over the final stretch.
That won’t be cheap. The roster has enough holes that a major overhaul is coming, and this isn’t a program spending like a true Big Ten heavyweight. An established starting quarterback could cost somewhere in the $2 million to $4 million range, while some are making more than $5 million.
Keeping Alex Manske would likely be far less expensive, depending on how he performs. Ethan Grunkemeyer is the example here: after an impressive half-season at Penn State last year, he is making $2 million at Virginia Tech this year after entering the portal.
That’s the bind for Penn State. It may not be able to pay top dollar for a proven starter, but it also can’t go into next season without a real answer at quarterback.
Maybe Manske becomes that answer. Maybe he doesn’t.
Either way, the only way to find out is with game reps, and after the bye week, he should get more than a token look.
In Other News...
Penn State's Linebacker Room Just Took Another Hit
Penn States linebacker group has already been under the microscope this fall, and it took another blow when Alex Tatsch was ruled out for the rest of the season after an injury in practice. Coach Matt Campbell confirmed the situation and said the full details are still being sorted out, leaving the Nittany Lions to keep adjusting their depth chart at a spot that rarely allows much margin for error.
Cam Smiths recovery offers at least a little relief, with the expectation that he should be back soon. Even so, the timing is not ideal for a defense trying to settle its rotation, and the next stretch will show how well Penn State can absorb another loss in a room that has already been asked to do more than its share. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State's Matt Campbell Era Already Faces One Uncomfortable Reality
Penn States 2026 season has already put Matt Campbell in a difficult spot, with the Nittany Lions sitting at 3-3 and still searching for their first interconference win. The issues have shown up on both sides of the ball, and while the roster includes a heavy Iowa State influence with several transfers following Campbell to Happy Valley, the early returns have underscored how thin the teams margin is against Big Ten opposition.
What has become increasingly clear is that Penn State does not yet have the kind of roster depth or overall talent level needed to sustain a national-title push, especially with the offense adjusting without wide receiver Koby Howard. The bigger concern is less about one rough stretch than the broader build, with analysts pointing to the need for more spending and stronger recruiting if Campbell is going to close the gap at the top of the sport. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Campbell Makes Penn State Pitch As Pressure Starts Mounting
Matt Campbell spent part of his recruiting pitch leaning into what makes Penn State different, stressing to prospects that playing in State College comes with a level of visibility and responsibility that follows a player well beyond Saturdays in the fall. The message was less about salesmanship than perspective, with Campbell framing the program as one where the expectations are real, but so are the opportunities that can come from wearing the jersey.
The timing of that pitch matters, too, because Penn State is trying to steady itself after a strong start gave way to recent struggles. Campbell did not pretend otherwise, but he sounded confident there is a path forward as the staff works to keep the bigger picture in focus. For recruits, the appeal is obvious enough: this is a program that asks a lot, yet can still open doors long after football ends. [Read more 🡒]