College football got absolutely wild this past weekend, seriously. Five of the top seven teams in the AP Top 25 got dropped, but let’s be real, the biggest shocker everyone’s still buzzing about came out of Ann Arbor: Michigan benched their No. 1-ranked QB prospect from the 2025 class, Bryce Underwood, after just five full games and a dismal first half against Penn State on Saturday. This wasn’t some quiet swap, either; Underwood had signed a massive NIL deal, reportedly in the $12 million range, making this move by head coach Kyle Whittingham one of the boldest calls you’ll see all year.
The Big QB Swap: Why Michigan Had to Make the Call
Anyone following the Michigan program could see the writing on the wall. Underwood’s start against Penn State was the breaking point, with him completing a rough 5 of 11 passes for just 43 yards and throwing two ugly interceptions. Whittingham pulled him, and honestly, the “stunning lack of growth” from Underwood meant it had to happen. The stakes were too high. In comes true freshman Tommy Carr, a name that should definitely ring a bell. This kid is the grandson of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, and his brother, CJ, is QB1 at Notre Dame and a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. Carr had already been turning heads, impressing everyone in Michigan’s spring game and building serious confidence with the coaching staff through fall camp. You gotta wonder if this switch would’ve happened even sooner if not for that extra second getting put back on the clock in Week 1 against Western Michigan.
Carr’s Spark: Instant Impact on a Struggling Offense
Carr didn’t just step in; he ignited the whole damn offense. Michigan had managed a pathetic 80 total yards in the first half, but with Carr under center, they exploded for 221 yards in the second half and put up 21 points. He only threw eight times, but man, his impact was immediate. His very first play from scrimmage, off an RPO, he kept it and fired a strike to wide receiver JJ Buchanan with an accuracy and rhythm we just haven’t seen from this squad all season. It was a clear message: Michigan wasn’t just gonna hand the ball off all game. He followed that up with a sprint-out on third down for another completion that probably would’ve been a first down if Andrew Marsh had trusted his speed more. Even offensive coordinator Jason Beck trusted him enough to dial up a flea flicker, which was covered well, but it showed the staff’s full confidence in their freshman signal-caller. Carr finished the game completing 5 of 7 passes for 47 yards and added another 36 rushing yards. That dual-threat ability, including a 23-yard scamper for a touchdown, makes you think: how much more effective could this offense be if Carr had been in earlier? Whittingham summed it up best on Monday, saying, “There’s never been a QB I’ve been around that studies more than Tommy Carr. His football IQ is off the chart.” No arguments there.
Underwood, to his credit, was a consummate pro on the sidelines, congratulating Carr every step of the way. But you have to wonder what this means for his future in Ann Arbor. Whittingham isn’t spilling the beans on that one, just dropping a confident, “We know exactly what we’re doing and our plan going forward.” That’s the kind of confidence you love to see. With Carr’s immediate spark, it looks like Michigan just found the guy to completely change the trajectory of their season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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