Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood faces pressure following a 20-14 loss to Minnesota that dropped the Wolverines to an 0-2 start in Big Ten play, prompting coach Kyle Whittingham to confirm that the staff considered making a quarterback change.
How Is Bryce Underwood Performing During Michigan’s Difficult Start?
In a 20-14 loss against Minnesota, Bryce Underwood completed fewer than 50% of his passes for 101 yards and two interceptions without scoring a touchdown, according to cbssports.com. The defeat marked Michigan’s first 0-2 start to Big Ten play since Brady Hoke’s final season in 2014. Across three games against Power Four competition, Underwood is completing 55% of his passes for 162.7 yards per game, with two touchdowns and three interceptions, while the Michigan offense averages 16.7 points in those matchups.
Before the Minnesota game, cbssports.com reported that Underwood experienced an inconsistent season opener against Western Michigan, needing a Hail Mary with one second remaining to secure a narrow victory. Whittingham admitted to watching the Western Michigan game three full times and failing to sleep until 5 a.m. on Sunday, stating that while the offensive line was not the primary issue, Underwood had to translate his practice strides into live games.
What Did Kyle Whittingham Say About Evaluating the Quarterback Position?
After the loss to Minnesota, Kyle Whittingham declined to offer Underwood an absolute vote of support when asked about the quarterback’s status. Instead, cbssports.com reported that Whittingham confirmed the staff discussed making a change during the game.
“Well, you always want to think about what gives you the best chance to win throughout the entire course of the game,” Whittingham said, as quoted by cbssports.com. “That’s being evaluated for everybody at every position. We just felt that, as the game was progressing, that Bryce gave us the best chance to win.”
Who Are the Alternative Options on Michigan’s Roster?
Because Michigan committed substantial resources to bring Underwood to campus, other options on the roster carry significant questions, according to cbssports.com. Senior Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi transferred in as a multi-year starter from Colorado State, but he led the nation with 16 interceptions in 2023 and was benched after three games last season. The more intriguing alternative is freshman Tommy Carr, a four-star recruit and the brother of Notre Dame’s CJ Carr and grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr.
Are There Flaws Beyond the Quarterback Position?
Underwood serves as an easy target for criticism due to his high recruiting pedigree, but cbssports.com noted that Michigan remains structurally flawed across the roster. The Wolverines rank 14th in the Big Ten in yards per carry and sat 114th in penalty yardage gap heading into the weekend. The receiving corps functions essentially as a two-man unit, with no player outside of JJ Buchanan and Andrew Marsh recording more than five catches.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the Wolverines play next?
Michigan enters a bye week following the Minnesota loss, providing the coaching staff time to evaluate personnel and potentially get freshman Tommy Carr up to speed before upcoming matchups against Oklahoma and UTEP, as reported by cbssports.com and si.com.
How did Bryce Underwood arrive at Michigan?
Underwood committed to and signed with Michigan as one of the most prominent recruiting wins in program history, flipping his longstanding commitment from LSU after a major financial investment from the university, according to cbssports.com and si.com.
What were Bryce Underwood’s statistics in the Western Michigan game?
While specific individual passing totals for the Western Michigan game were not detailed beyond a last-second Hail Mary victory, cbssports.com and si.com noted that Underwood struggled significantly and appeared to regress before buying himself time with the game-winning touchdown pass.
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