Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham said Monday that the staff has already decided who will start at quarterback against No. 6 Indiana this Saturday, but he is not ready to announce it. Whittingham stated the team has “a good plan in place” and will not tip its hand to the opponent.
True freshman Tommy Carr replaced sophomore Bryce Underwood at halftime of Michigan’s 21-18 win over Penn State. Underwood completed 5 of 11 passes for 43 yards and threw two interceptions in a scoreless first half as Michigan managed only 80 total yards. Carr entered to begin the second half, completed 5 of 7 passes for 47 yards, rushed for 36 yards, and scored on a 12-yard run late in the game. Michigan scored 21 points in the second half and finished with a significantly improved rushing attack.
Whittingham said the change was recommended by the offensive staff and that he supported it. He noted that Underwood handled the situation well and supported Carr between series. Carr, the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr and the younger brother of Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, had previously appeared only against UTEP this season.
Underwood, the top overall recruit in the 2025 class, has started every game for Michigan since arriving on campus. Through six games he has completed 58 percent of his passes for 924 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions, plus two fumbles. Whittingham had reaffirmed Underwood as the starter coming out of the bye week earlier this month, citing his physical tools and experience. After reviewing the Penn State film, the staff reached a decision Sunday night.
Michigan (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) hosts Indiana on October 24. The Hoosiers are coming off a 19-15 loss to Ohio State that ended their 22-game winning streak. Whoever starts will face a defense that limited Ohio State to 19 points. Whittingham has indicated the plan does not involve rotating both quarterbacks early. The first snap against Indiana will show which direction the staff has chosen after Carr’s second-half performance.
