Bryce Underwood never seriously considered entering the transfer portal, even during the turmoil following the firing of Sherrone Moore. As he heads into his second season at Michigan, Underwood remains firmly entrenched as the starting quarterback, but freshman sensation Tommy Carr, the grandson of legendary coach Lloyd Carr, is emerging as a legitimate threat to his role after a standout spring performance.
Underwood, who flipped from LSU to Michigan as the nation’s top recruit in 2025, finished his true freshman campaign with 2,428 passing yards and 17 total touchdowns. Despite his elite pedigree, he struggled with consistency in his debut year, posting a 78 rating in the PFSN College Football QB Impact Metric and throwing nine interceptions.
Kyle Whittingham Backs Bryce Underwood, but Highlights Tommy Carr’s Surge
Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham, hired in December 2025 to lead the post-Moore era, labeled Underwood as the “clear No. 1” earlier this offseason. He reiterated that stance following the spring game on Saturday, April 18, though he acknowledged the rapid development of his backup.
“Bryce is our starter right now and that’s not any different after today,” Whittingham said. “Tommy has really made strides and really has a great pocket presence and escapability. He can extend plays, keeps his eyes downfield. All the things that you look for in a big-time quarterback, I believe Tommy possesses.”
Underwood’s performance in Saturday’s spring game raised eyebrows among the 35,000 fans at the Big House. Playing only the first quarter, he completed just 3 of 9 passes for 22 yards. Analysts noted several missed opportunities, including overthrows and difficulty reading the defense, though Whittingham remained defensive of his starter’s “unseen” progress.
“He progressed all through spring,” Whittingham told GBM Wolverine. “Some things may not be noticeable to the general populace, but his footwork and pocket presence have improved in all areas. We’ve still got a lot of confidence in him. There’s no different sentiment than what we had when we first got in here.”
Conversely, Tommy Carr dazzled the crowd by completing 21 of 30 passes for 143 yards and leading a last-minute touchdown drive to secure a 7-6 win for the Maize team. Carr, whose brother CJ Carr is currently the Heisman favorite at Notre Dame, showed a level of poise that has many wondering if a true quarterback battle is brewing in Ann Arbor.
“Saw them call a couple QB runs for Tommy Carr and he showed he is a legit threat,” analyst Sam Webb tweeted. “Really good feel for extending plays and scrambling. Nice catchable ball.” As the Wolverines head into summer, Underwood remains the lead man, but the “pleasant surprise” of Carr’s spring has ensured that the QB1 spot is anything but settled.
