Michigan isn’t messing around: freshman quarterback Tommy Carr is getting his first career start this Saturday when the Wolverines host the Indiana Hoosiers on Big Noon Kickoff. This is a huge shift, coming with just over a month left in the regular season, and it signals a serious shake-up in Ann Arbor’s QB room.
Bryce Underwood Benched After Penn State Struggle
The move comes after a tough outing for Bryce Underwood last week in the 21-18 win over Penn State. Underwood was benched after throwing two interceptions and completing only 5 of 11 pass attempts for a paltry 43 yards. Oof. Carr came in for relief, and even though he only threw two passes, that limited sample size was apparently enough for Michigan to pull the trigger on a change. Coach Kyle Whittingham didn’t mince words after the win when asked about Underwood’s performance, saying, “Well, he only had about 70 yards or thereabouts in the first half, and no points, and we just needed to get something done and create a spark, as we said.” That spark helped the Wolverines snap their two-game losing streak, taking control in the second half.
Tommy Carr Steps Up, And The Stakes Are Sky-High
This isn’t a surprise to anyone who’s been following the Wolverines closely; Whittingham’s uncertainty surrounding Underwood has been apparent for a while. Carr, who previously saw action in a 52-17 victory against UTEP, has clearly impressed the staff with his dedication. Whittingham raved about Carr, saying, “He’s always prepared. I walk by the quarterback room 12 times, 15 times a day. He’s in there pretty much every second he doesn’t have class, he’s in there watching film. So, he’s very prepared when his number was called. Like I said, he responded very well.” While Whittingham wasn’t ready to name Carr the starter during his Monday presser, the reports are now official. What this means for the Wolverines’ season is the million-dollar question, because the heat is on Whittingham himself. ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit on the “Nonstop” podcast was blunt: Whittingham “probably get fired” if this move doesn’t work out and Michigan’s struggles continue. Transitioning to Carr is a high-stakes, last-ditch effort to salvage the Wolverines’ season.
Will it pay off? We’ll start to get our answer this Saturday when Carr steps onto the field for his first career start against the Indiana Hoosiers. The fate of Michigan’s season, and maybe even Coach Whittingham’s job, rests on this gamble.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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