Michigan keeps Bryce Underwood as quarterback but leaves role open
Kyle Whittingham says Underwood remains Michigan’s starter for now, with improvement required across the team before the Oklahoma game.
Bryce Underwood will remain Michigan’s starting quarterback for now, coach Kyle Whittingham said after the team’s narrow 13–12 win over Western Michigan.
Whittingham said the role was not permanently secure and that Michigan needed to improve before its Week 2 meeting with Oklahoma. He said the need for progress extended beyond Underwood to the coaching staff and the wider team.
Underwood completed 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception against Western Michigan. He also lost a fourth-quarter fumble.
Michigan avoided defeat when Underwood’s 47-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass on the final play secured the season-opening win. The result did not, however, settle the longer-term position battle.
Whittingham said every place on the team could be assessed through week-to-week performance, without identifying a specific challenger to Underwood. He said the standard would be whether players were performing at a level capable of producing wins.
