When Kyle Whittingham made the decision to bench Bryce Underwood in favor of freshman Tommy Carr, there was this feeling of a weight lifting off the shoulders of every Michigan fan. As Carr jogged onto the field to start the second half, the fans let Whittingham know he finally made the right call.
Now, the tough call is deciding whether he sticks with Carr going forward, who also didn't light up the stat sheet but clearly brought a needed spark to this Michigan offense, or goes back to Underwood. Well, after the win over Penn State, Whttingham wasn't ready to make that choice, which isn't a huge surprise.
Kyle Whittingham says it's TBD on who will start at QB for Michigan going forward.
— Clayton Sayfie (@CSayf23) October 17, 2026
Sure, we as fans know who we want to be the quarterback: it's Carr, hands down, but there is a little more that plays into this decision for Whittingham. Carr was ready to come in the game, preparing for this moment all season long, but being the starter is an entirely different role to play, and it needs to be a decision made by the entire offensive staff, just like it was at halftime against Penn State.
Kyle Whittingham can't wait forever to choose a starting quarterback going forward
While I understand that Whittingham may not be ready right now to name a starter at the quarterback position going forward, he can't wait forever. Michigan got a win, but it wasn't a pretty one against Penn State, now one of the worst teams in the Big Ten.
The Wolverines are set to take on Indiana this week, a Hoosiers team that just lost for the first time since the 2024 football season and is probably looking to let out some rage. If Carr is going to be the starter, he needs to be getting the majority of snaps in practice this week, not splitting them because a decision can't be made about the quarterback position.
Carr might have been the winning quarterback for Michigan, but he was far from perfect. Offensive coordinator Jason Beck also needs to see that Carr can handle the offense because it was clear he wasn't comfortable opening up the playbook too much for the freshman QB.
It should feel like an easy decision, and honestly, if Whittingham goes back to Underwood, he could have a riot on his hands with the fanbase. Ultimately, Michigan's College Football Playoff chances are slim to none at this point, so what do you have to lose by starting Carr?
By starting Carr, Michigan can start to see what they have for the future at the quarterback position, and it gives him more experience heading into the 2027 season.
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