Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham next to quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) reacts to 20-19 loss to Iowa at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
The Bryce Underwood Era at Michigan can thus far be described as overhyped and underdelivering. And it appears that things are on track to get worse before they get any better.
Underwood, a Michigan native and five-star recruit, flipped to the Wolverines from LSU thanks to a much-talked-about $8 million NIL deal funded in part by Oracle founder Larry Ellison.
But through 1.5 seasons as the starting quarterback, Underwood is just 12-7. He’s completed 60 percent of his passes, but for only 3,309 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
After Michigan’s most recent loss to Iowa, head coach Kyle Whittingham refused to place blame on offensive coordinator Jason Beck, instead calling on Underwood to step up his game.
“It’s a new offense for him… There are a lot of reads that need to be made in this offense, a lot of RPO aspect to it,” Whittingham said. “There’s going to be reads not only in the throw game but in the run game. Those reads are critical to the success of the offense. We’ve just got to continue to work on making the correct reads in those situations.”
Apparently Underwood didn’t take well to that critique.
Bryce Underwood Left Michigan To Go To California For Bye Week
Following the loss to the Hawkeyes, the Wolverines had a bye week to prepare for a home game against struggling Penn State.
Instead of staying in Ann Arbor and working with his coaches and teammates, Underwood instead opted to go to California and work out with his own personal quarterback coach.
CBS Sideline Reporter:
“Bryce Underwood spent the week in California with his private quarterback coach”
That is the most 2026 College Football statement of all-time.
In what world are we living in?
— Ryan Ermanni (@ErmanniMedia) October 17, 2026
That decision didn’t seem to pay off. Underwood went just 5-of-11 for 43 yards and two interceptions in the first half against the Nittany Lions.
Whittingham has previously suggested that Underwood’s job as the starting quarterback is far from a sure thing. Now we’ll see just how serious he is about that threat.
UPDATE: Whittingham stood by his word, benching Underwood in favor of backup Tommy Carr at halftime against Penn State. Now the question is whether or not Underwood regains his starting job in the coming weeks.