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Coach Kyle Whittingham’s Michigan Wolverines beat Penn State 21-18 at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan on a day when prized quarterback recruit and starter Bryce Underwood was pulled in favor of Tommy Carr, legendary coach Lloyd Carr’s grandson. Carr helped calm his team after a 3-0 halftime deficit fueled by two Underwood interceptions, just days after Whittingham foreshadowed a potential benching.
Carr finished with 47 yards passing along with 36 rushing yards and a one touchdown on the ground. He nearly had a second rushing touchdown as he was tackled just short of the goal line with Michigan leading 7-3.
The true freshman Carr, son of former Michigan QB Jason Carr and brother of Notre Dame Heisman Trophy candidate CJ Carr, led Michigan to a season-saving victory, and now Whittingham has a decision to make that he will be asked about ad nauseam until he does make it.
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Tommy Carr deserves to be Michigan’s starting quarterback heading into October 24’s home game against Indiana, and it’s no contest at this point.
Underwood’s struggles nearly sunk Michigan
Underwood had a solid season for a freshman with Michigan in 2025, leading former coach Sherrone Moore’s team to a 9-4 record (7-2 in the Big Ten). He proved he is a capable college quarterback, but fans and former coaches, including Urban Meyer, began to sour on him and the Michigan offense after a long string of unforced errors.
Underwood had a chance to lead his team back against Minnesota, but sailed his final pass several feet over his receiver’s head and out-of-bounds as Michigan lost the Little Brown Jug trophy game.
He had a chance to show he had improved following the bye week, and threw two interceptions against an average to below-average Matt Campbell-led Nittany Lions team. Underwood faced some of the worst adversity he has in his career since last year’s Ohio State game, and couldn’t work through it on the field.
He needs time to process what happened and bounce back at a later time.
Carr has more upside than Underwood
Some fans have posited that Carr has gotten preferential treatment because of his last name being Michigan royalty, but that’s not why he replaced Underwood.
Carr is a more decisive runner and playmaker with the ball in his hands right now compared to Underwood, and the difference is palpable every time he steps on the field. Whittingham’s comments seemed to portend Carr taking over for Underwood at some point. The feeling was that Whittingham would give Underwood every chance to retain his job, but the writing has been on the wall all along.
Underwood appeared to be pressing as he underthrew a wide open Andrew Marsh in the first half of the Penn State game, leading to an interception. Carr tends to overthrow receivers when he does make a mistake, but he gives receivers a better chance to catch the ball when he does compared to Underwood.
Carr has a small sample size right now, but has been a fantastic practice player by all accounts, which is rare for a freshman. Carr and Underwood both have high upside potential, but Carr looks like a more polished player which is odd considering Underwood has more experience.
Underwood will learn from his benching
Underwood was benched at halftime but remained engaged with the game. He was seen congratulating Carr on his touchdown run and has the look of a team player who will take his benching hard but work to bounce back from it. Underwood turned down lucrative offers to move out of state and play for LSU and other programs but chose his hometown Wolverines because he wants to help them win.
If Underwood can remain focused and rediscover what made him the nation’s top player out of high school, he can learn from his benching and become the player he was meant to become.
Michigan fans are united behind Tommy Carr
Carr has the look, demeanor and swagger of an NFL quarterback which has Michigan fans united in his corner. He also provides the angle of the legendary coach’s grandson and gets bonus points as the brother of CJ Carr, who succeeded early in his career with the Fighting Irish.
Carr drove the Wolverines down the field to 21 second-half points against the Nittany Lions after they looked left-for-dead in the first half. His presence provided a spark that gives Michigan hope for better days ahead, which is why Whittingham must stick with him until he is forced to make a different decision.
The duo of Carr and Underwood provides two quarterbacks with tons of upside potential and great skills both passing and running the ball. If Carr can harness his considerable God-given abilities and run with them, Michigan might have its next great starting quarterback, along with one of the nation’s best backups.
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