Michigan Football: Brandon Peters is backup QB, what does it mean?

We know that Michigan football has named Shea Patterson as its starting quarterback but now that Brandon Peters is the backup, what does it mean long term?

Monday was an interesting day for Michigan football fans and that’s because, for the first time in four seasons as head coach of the Wolverines, Jim Harbaugh announced a starting quarterback.

In previous years, Harbaugh waited until the day of the game or even once the game started to reveal his quarterback. Last year, we knew it was Wilton Speight, but not until the day of the game against Florida. When Jake Rudock trotted out against Utah, that’s when we first knew he was the guy.

So it was a bit of a surprise to see the news come out that Shea Patterson will be the starter against Notre Dame. Harbaugh didn’t really make an announcement. He said something to the M-Club and some others and must have known it would get out. It’s a good thing it did. Patterson knows he’s the guy and the rest of the team, which was told Monday too, knows the same.

Patterson can get the first-team reps and prepare fully as the starter for next Saturday’s showdown with Notre Dame. That will be a good thing. But another announcement was dropped by Harbaugh Monday and that was that Brandon Peters would be the backup quarterback.

It’s an interesting decision and one that you have to question. After all, the talk all summer was about Dylan McCaffrey. As recently as a few weeks ago, there was a buzz about Harbaugh talking about McCaffrey and that maybe, just maybe, the redshirt freshman could push Patterson.

That certainly wasn’t expected from Peters, who struggled as the starter late last season. He was particularly bad against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. That was the day many Michigan football fans probably wished Peters would never play quarterback for UM again. Unfortunately, they may have to re-live that nightmare this fall. (Let’s hope Shea stays healthy).

Many thought the backup quarterback would have a leg up on being the Wolverines next starting quarterback, whether that comes next season if Patterson leaves early on in 2020. However, you wonder if Peters won the job because of seniority and experience, not because of his long-term prospects in the program.

Because when thinking about the long-term prospects of the position, I know I am not alone in hoping that Peters isn’t the quarterback of the future or even a future starter. That should be McCaffrey or Joe Milton.

But Harbaugh must not be thinking about the future and right now, he must believe Peters gives him the best chance to win if Patterson gets hurt. Here’s hoping he’s right if it comes to that because missing on quarterback evaluations isn’t something Harbaugh can afford any longer.