Could Michigan QB Bryce Underwood Lose His Starting Job?

Michigan football quarterback Bryce Underwood is feeling the heat after a tough opening game of the 2026 season. The 19-year-old sophomore struggled in Michigan's Week 1 win over Western Michigan. Now, new head coach Kyle Whittingham says no starting job on the team is set in stone — including Underwood's.

Underwood came to Michigan as one of the most hyped recruits in recent memory. He was a five-star prospect and received a large NIL deal, which is money paid to college athletes for the use of their name and image. Because of that, fans and coaches expected big things from him right away.

His freshman year was disappointing. He threw 11 touchdown passes but also threw nine interceptions. His first game of his sophomore year did not go much better, and it left many Michigan fans wondering if he is truly ready to lead the team.

Against Western Michigan, Underwood completed just 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards. He threw one touchdown pass, but he also threw one interception and lost a fumble at a key moment in the game. The stats alone do not tell the full story of how poorly the game went for him.

A football statistics website called Pro Football Focus graded Underwood as Michigan's worst offensive player in the game. He had five plays that could have turned into turnovers and zero 'big-time throws,' which are passes that lead to scoring chances. Among 110 quarterbacks who dropped back at least 20 times in Week 1 across college football, his passing grade was the second-worst.

After the game, Underwood took some responsibility. 'I had a few missed assignments,' he said. 'That could have cost us a game, so got to do better on my behalf.' He seemed to understand that he needs to improve quickly.

On Monday, Coach Whittingham was asked directly whether Underwood would remain the starting quarterback. Another player, Tommy Carr — the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr — is ready to step in if needed. Whittingham did not guarantee Underwood's spot.

'He's our QB, and you know it's not something that's infinite,' Whittingham said. 'At some point you've gotta turn the corner, and we've got to see improvement.' He also made clear that every player and coach must perform better each week.

Whittingham has noticed that Tommy Carr is working very hard to be ready. The coach said he walked past the quarterback room late at night during the offseason and found Carr watching game film all by himself. 'He's completely immersed in his development as far as trying to get better,' Whittingham said.

The strange part is that Underwood looked great in practice. The offensive coordinator, Jason Beck, praised him during preseason camp and said the improvement from spring to fall was like 'night and day.' But so far, that strong practice play has not shown up on game day.

Whittingham admitted he does not have a clear answer for why practice success has not carried over. 'It's unfortunate and disappointing,' he said. 'We see him every day. He's been very sharp all through fall camp.' He said he hopes to see real improvement in the next game.

That next game is against Oklahoma, a tough opponent with a strong defense. Oklahoma's coach, Brent Venables, is expected to put a lot of pressure on Underwood with difficult defensive plans. It will be a major test to see whether Underwood bounces back — or whether Tommy Carr gets his chance.