Free Press sports writer Tony Garcia assess Michigan football's winners and losers for the Wolverines after their 21-18 victory over Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 17, in Week 7 of the 2026 college football season.
Winners
QB Tommy Carr
The freshman finally got his chance — much to the delight of the fanbase — and looked ready for the moment. Carr, a Saline native, was poised in the first legitimate action of his career, going 5-for-7 for 47 yards and running four times for 36 yards, including the eventual winning touchdown.
He nearly had a rushing touchdown earlier, when he ran a keeper 22 yards up the middle and was tackled a foot short of the goal line. Then he showed his moxie and decision-making late in the game, when he kept a speed option on third-and-9 from the 12 and powered his way into the end zone.
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He made throws on time and on target, moved the sticks with his feet and, most importantly, never risked a turnover. Coach Kyle Whittingham didn’t commit Saturday night to a starter vs. Indiana, but it’s hard to imagine it’s not Carr.
S Chris Bracy
Michigan needed a defender to change the game and the Memphis transfer stepped up. First, he lurked in the left slot as Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht lofted a pass on third-and-short in the third quarter, only to pick off the pass. Then, more consequently, with U-M hanging to a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter, he came on a safety blitz from Becht’s blindside and strip-sacked him to set the Michigan offense up at the PSU 13.
“Chris is a real playmaker, has been ever since Game 1,” Whittingham said. “He seems to be gaining momentum each week as he gets more comfortable in the scheme. It was a really good pickup for us in the portal back in January, and he’s proven it.”
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RB Savion Hiter
It took six weeks, but at long last Hiter looked like the top-ranked running back in the class of 2026. The freshman ran 11 times for a career-high 78 yards, which included a 43-yard burst when U-M’s offense was backed up inside its own 10.. Hiter, who had just one carry of more than 8 yards all season, had two Saturday of at least 10 yards. He entered averaging one missed tackle forced, then forced two from the Nittany Lions, per Pro Football Focus. Most importantly, he ran aggressive, downhill, with purpose.
Losers
QB Bryce Underwood
Anytime the starting quarterback is benched, it’s not a good sign. U-M’s sophomore starter went 5-for-11 for 43 yards and was intercepted twice, including in the final 30 seconds of the first half on a deep ball for JJ Buchanan when U-M was already inside of field goal range. He was 1-for-5 passing on attempts of at least 10 yards, accounting for both his turnovers. To his credit, Underwood acted the part of a captain after he was benched, staying engaged on the sideline and hyping up Carr. That said, a five-star recruit appearing to lose his job in the middle of his second season is hard to sugarcoat
CB Jyaire Hill
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill went man-heavy in Week 7 and Penn State wideout Chase Sowell got the better of Hill early and often. Hill had only been thrown at 11 times through five weeks, allowing seven receptions for 69 yards. That didn’t stop the Nittany Lions from throwing at him; he was the primary defender on nine passes, allowing seven receptions for 85 yards. That included a long of 26 yards, 13 yards-after-catch with a missed tackle and two penalties on his 72 snaps. Hill was the second-lowest graded U-M defender (49.7, per Pro Football Focus) in a day to forget for U-M’s top cover corner.
Wide receivers
The bright spot of the Michigan offense through five weeks was essentially a non-factor Saturday. Buchanan caught a team-high three passes for 36 yards while Andrew Marsh had three grabs for 21 yards. U-M didn’t throw much — just 18 times — but the Wolverines didn't have a play of more than 12 yards to its top two receiving weapons, on 10 targets.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football winners, losers vs Penn State as Tommy Carr shines