Kyle Whittingham didn't look like a man who had answers when he was interviewed during halftime of the Michigan-Penn State game on Saturday.
With the Wolverines down three, the Michigan football head coach talked about how the Wolverines had to get something going on offense.
Maybe the decision was already made. Maybe it was made after that, but Whittingham's decision to turn things around was to insert Tommy Carr into the game.
The offense was much more productive with Carr. It had 220 yards in the second half. Carr's first drive was a three-and-out, but he did give Michigan a spark, a spark that Rod Moore added to with an interception. After Bryson Kuzdal scored a 43-yard rushing touchdown, and it was game on.
Carr didn't turn the ball over; he converted two third-and-nines, and scored a rushing touchdown. The defense woke up, and Michigan got a much-needed win. Here is what we learned.
Tommy Carr needs to be Michigan's quarterback.
People are going to call Bryce Underwood a bust. His career isn't over. Whittingham didn't commit to Tommy Carr as the starter moving forward, but it's hard to see how the Wolverines go back to Underwood.
Maybe, they give Underwood another chance after sitting and watching, but if the offense is working, after five weeks of struggling, Whittingham should stick with Carr. He doesn't have the carry the offense. He certainly didn't on Saturday. He passed for 47 yards and rushed for 36.
What Carr did well was take care of the ball. If the Wolverines can do that and run it like they did on Saturday, they can win some games down the stretch. Carr is a solid athlete. And if the running game is explosive, it should open up some things in play action.
Underwood could have a role on the offense, too. Utah used two quarterbacks last season. One was mostly a runner. Underwood can do that, although his ball protection isn't perfect.
Carr should start, though. That seems obvious.
Regardless of the quarterback, the running game was the major development
Having a quarterback protect the ball was critical. Michigan's defense is good enough that a punt is a good play. The Wolverines forced three turnovers, setting up the offense for 21 points.
That wasn't the only thing that happened. Jason Beck started getting away from the Rhino, at least, and the Wolverines got two 40-yard runs in the second half. Michigan had 36 rushing yards in the first half, but finished with 175 in the second. Carr ran for 36 yards in a half.
Michigan got back to more of a traditional running game in the second half. It worked. It allowed the backs and the offensive line to do what they do best. Savion Hiter had 78 yards on 11 carries. It feels like Michigan found its identity by getting back to what its identity should have been all along.
If this Michigan football team is going to win some games down the stretch, it needs to run the ball at an elite level. Saturday's second half was a start.
Michigan's offense still has issues
The most disappointing thing about Saturday's game were the lack of adjustments by Whittingham and Beck. It was like they did zero self-scouting. Penn State allowed over 400 rushing yards against Northwestern. Yet, Michigan rushed for 36 yards on 11 carries in the first half.
It was too much of the same stuff that wasn't working. Beck came back out with the Rhino and put up a goose egg for the second half in a row.
Finally, they started to see sense. Sam Webb detailed some of the run games in the second half that worked. All three were without the Rhino. The package certainly has uses, but not as a base. Hopefully, Beck got that through his head.
the stretch run to Hiter on that drive - no rhino. So the three biggest runs of the game... and three of the biggest of the season: split stretch to Kuzdzal for a TD, stetch to Hiter for 18 yards, and QB counter read for Tommy -- all with no rhino
— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) October 17, 2026
You have to hope Michigan will build on this momentum and that Beck will build on what works, more importantly, what his players are good at.
That didn't happen in the first five games.
The defense is playing at a championship level
This defense is good enough to win a Big Ten title or at least contend for one. It's too bad the offense was as bad as it was in 2024, at times worse through the first 5.5 games.
Even after Carr came in the game, Penn State got the ball up 3-0. Rod Moore made a diving interception. Soon after, Michigan was in the lead.
The Nittany Lions got a lot of yards late. It felt sort of like Iowa all over again. The pass coverage needs to tighten up.
Overall, though, the defense was off the charts. Chris Bracy forced two takeaways. Penn State only rushed for 65 yards.
Imagine how the defense would play if it wasn't on the field all the time. The second half was the first time we have seen complementary football. It was beautiful.
If the Wolverines can get the running game going, along with this defense, Michigan might finally be cooking with gas.
In other words, it might finally look like a Michigan football team.
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