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Michigan Benches Bryce Underwood As Multimillion-Dollar Gamble Falters

Michigan made a dramatic coaching decision midway through Saturday’s game against Penn State, pulling starting quarterback Bryce Underwood after he threw two interceptions in the first half. The Wolverines turned to freshman Tommy Carr, who quickly responded with two scoring drives to give Michigan a 14-3 lead by the end of the third quarter.

Underwood’s struggles have been evident all season under first-year head coach Kyle Whittingham, with a completion percentage of just 59% and an even six touchdowns to six turnovers (four interceptions and two fumbles) entering the game.

The move underscores the risks of Michigan’s high-stakes investment in Underwood, who signed a record-breaking NIL deal reportedly worth between $10 million and $12.5 million over four years—funded by billionaire Larry Ellison. Previously committed to LSU, Underwood flipped to Michigan late in the recruiting cycle, partly due to the financial incentive.

Meanwhile, Carr’s emergence adds another layer of family legacy to the game, as his brother CJ plays quarterback at Notre Dame and his father, Jason, previously played for Michigan in the 1990s. His grandfather, Lloyd Carr, was Michigan’s head coach from 1995 to 2007, leading the Wolverines to a national championship in 1997.

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