Michigan took a 19-14 lead with 11:59 left on the clock after a failed two-point conversion that would have put the Wolverines up a full touchdown. After that, Michigan only possessed the ball two more times for a total of 3 minutes and 27 seconds, and only once did Whittingham and his staff put the game in Bryce Underwood's hands.
Sure, at the end of the game, when you have a lead, it is all about eating up as much clock as possible, but Underwood was having a great day - his best, actually, all season, minus the one interception he threw. Even with that, Michigan chose to run the ball six times and only had one pass attempt after an illegal formation penalty forced them into a 3rd and 8 that the defense was ready for.
After that pass ended up incomplete, Underwood walked to the Michigan sideline visibly upset. Now, this is purely speculation, but he very well could have been upset with the decision to take the ball out of his hands, except for one play where Iowa knew the pass was coming. It felt like Michigan wasn't playing to win, but instead not to lose.
Bryce Underwood having some words on the sidelines. pic.twitter.com/wRzvT2VtFc
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) September 26, 2026
At some point Michigan is going to have to trust Bryce Underwood in the big moments
I will say it again: I understand that running out the clock was crucial on the final two drives for the Wolverines, but only once did they put any faith in Underwood. When Iowa was going to send the house, that was when they chose to give Underwood a chance, instead of on first or second down.
Underwood is still a young player, having only turned 19 just before the season began, but if Michigan wants him to be their star quarterback, it is time to start trusting him in big moments. Diamonds are made under pressure; just look at players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. When it comes down to it, their coaches put the ball in their hands.
Now, Underwood is far from a Mahomes or an Allen, but he won't get there either if he isn't given the opportunity to make the big play. Michigan could have won that game if they had gotten one first down on either of those two final drives, but instead they chose to trust the defense, which has worked until now.
It can't always come down to the Michigan defense to win every game for the Wolverines; the offense has to start stepping up, and honestly, it did at times yesterday. Sure, the red zone trips weren't amazing, but Underwood was finally showing what has been wanted from him with 276 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Sure, those numbers may not seem great, but for Underwood, they are the step forward he needed to take. Now it is just time to start trusting him in the big moments because yesterday it was clear that the coaching staff didn't, and it might have cost them the game.
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