Could the Bryce Underwood era truly be over after a two-year run with the Michigan Wolverines?
It certainly seems so, as the former five-star recruit sat out the second half of Michigan’s 21-18 victory over Penn State on Saturday.
The victory revives hopes that the Michigan season isn’t totally awry, but also means Underwood likely won’t be part of the journey in a starting capacity.
Read more on post-game comments and the possible fallout from this decision below.
Kyle Whittingham Reveals Underwood’s Reaction to Benching
Michigan’s 66-year-old head coach is facing heat of his own in his first season at the helm. While the staff obviously wants the QB arrangement to work, it seems as if outside pressure came into play here.
Whittingham revealed that benching Underwood was a staff-wide decision, with OC Jason Beck notifying him of the change (Clayton Safdie).
The 19-year-old’s reaction to the move should install confidence in the Michigan fanbase.
What Comes Out of Benching for Michigan?
While the door seems open for Underwood to return to the field, it doesn’t seem very practical.
The process to bring the high-profile passer to Ann Arbor was a complicated one. In an ideal world, it would work out. However, there seems to be too many roadblocks preventing a successful partnership from taking shape.
This is also on the heels of Whittingham already facing significant pressure from the inside and outside. It seems as if the best conclusion for both sides might be finding fresh starts in 2027.
There’s certainly a chance that a bevy of power four programs would have interest. This isn’t unlike DJ Lagway failing to find footing at Florida, just to find a second wind at Baylor.
As for Michigan, there’s a chance that Carr is the answer moving forward. The grandson of legendary Michigan coach Lloyd Carr was the 15th best quarterback in the nation in the 2026 class (247 Sports). His brother is Notre Dame QB CJ Carr as well, pointing to a potentially special lineage.
Time will tell what comes of the impending controversy, but conventional wisdom points to this being the end for Underwood at Michigan.
The 2026 season continues on regardless of the ultimate decision. The Wolverines are facing a quick turnaround from the win, especially in taking on the Indiana Hoosiers (coming off their first loss since 2024) next week.
Expect Carr to be the quarterback under center, and for the Michigan offense to have potential to find a spark.
Michigan’s Kyle Whittingham Reveals Bryce Underwood’s Surprising Reaction to Benching