Michigan heads into its October 24 home game against Indiana with an open question at quarterback. Coach Kyle Whittingham has not named a starter since true freshman Tommy Carr replaced Bryce Underwood at halftime of the 21-18 win over Penn State. Whittingham said the staff would review the film and decide by Monday, but he also indicated the team might not tip its hand before facing Indiana.
Against Penn State, Underwood completed 5 of 11 passes for 43 yards and threw two interceptions in a scoreless first half. Michigan managed only 80 total yards before the break and trailed 3-0. Carr entered to start the second half, completed 5 of 7 passes for 47 yards, added 36 rushing yards, and scored on a 12-yard run with 2:58 remaining. The Wolverines scored 21 points in the second half and finished with 211 rushing yards after generating just 37 on the ground in the first half. Whittingham called the change a decision by the offensive staff that he supported, and he said the timing created the spark the team needed.
Underwood handled the benching well, according to Whittingham. Offensive coordinator Jason Beck delivered the news at halftime, and Underwood supported Carr between series. Whittingham has previously pointed to Underwood’s physical tools—listed at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds with a strong arm and mobility—and his experience as reasons he remained the starter through earlier struggles. Through the season, Underwood has thrown for 924 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions. Carr, listed at roughly 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, had appeared only against UTEP before Saturday. Whittingham noted Carr’s size is still a concern but praised his preparation.
The next opponent is Indiana, which entered the week ranked in the top six before losing 19-15 to Ohio State. Michigan is 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten after securing its first conference win. The Wolverines avoided starting 0-3 in league play for the first time since 1967. Whoever starts against Indiana will face a defense that just limited Ohio State to 19 points and held its own in a physical game.
Whittingham has said the evaluation will look at why the offense was more effective in the second half, noting there was not a major scheme change. He has also indicated that both players received significant work during the bye week. The decision rests on whether the staff believes Carr’s second-half production and ball security outweigh Underwood’s physical advantages and previous experience, or whether the first-half issues were isolated enough to keep Underwood in the starting role.
Michigan hosts Indiana at noon on October 24. The quarterback who takes the first snap will be the one Whittingham and the staff determine gives the team the best chance after reviewing the Penn State film. Until that choice is made public, the competition remains open. The result against Indiana will provide the next data point on whether the change at halftime becomes the direction for the rest of the season.
