Michigan defeated Penn State 21-18 on Saturday in Ann Arbor, improving to 4-2 after head coach Kyle Whittingham benched starting quarterback Bryce Underwood at halftime in favor of Tommy Carr, who rushed for a late-game touchdown to seal the victory.
Bryce Underwood Benched After Slow First Half
The Michigan Wolverines faced a scoreless deficit at halftime against the Penn State Nittany Lions, prompting a major personnel change. First-year head coach Kyle Whittingham pulled starting quarterback Bryce Underwood after the team trailed 3-0 at halftime.
His performance marked a continuation of season-long issues involving throwing mechanics, reading defenses, and high turnover rates. Whittingham praised Underwood’s handling of the demotion, noting that Bryce couldn’t have handled it any better,
as cited by The Associated Press.
Tommy Carr Sparks the Wolverines Offense
Stepping into the quarterback role after intermission, Tommy Carr immediately altered the game’s trajectory. Carr added 36 rushing yards and a touchdown across four carries, including a 22-yard draw that set up a 1-yard scoring run by Jordan Marshall. His entry into the lineup catalyzed an offense that had produced zero points under Underwood, lifting the Wolverines to 21 second-half points.
DEVELOPING: Michigan just benched Bryce Underwood and Tommy Carr is in the game versus Penn State. https://t.co/suS1fuORfn
Carr’s athletic pedigree runs deep in Ann Arbor. He jogged onto the field where his grandfathers led a national championship team and set a program record with 25 career interceptions. His brother is Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, and his grandfathers are 1997 national championship-winning coach Lloyd Carr and All-America defensive back Tom Curtis, a former Wolverine. After watching his grandson run for a score, Lloyd Carr remarked simply, wow,
according to The Associated Press.
To score that touchdown to seal the game was huge.
Tommy Carr, via The Associated Press
Whittingham acknowledged the tactical shift after the final whistle. The idea at halftime was to create a spark and Tommy did just that,
Whittingham said, according to The Associated Press. Carr converted a third down on a 12-yard touchdown run with 2:58 left to play, giving Michigan a two-score lead. Michigan defensive end Tariq Boney recorded a sack during the first half.
Penn State Struggles and Roster Decisions
For the Nittany Lions, the defeat extends a difficult stretch after starting the season 3-0.
This game is super humbling.
Rocco Becht, via The Associated Press
While wideouts like Sowell continue to produce alongside tight ends, and with Howard potentially returning against Purdue out of the bye week, there have been suggestions that backup quarterback Alex Manske receive valuable reps moving forward. Penn State later pulled within three points early in the fourth quarter on Carson Hansen’s 2-yard touchdown run and a 2-point conversion, and cut the lead to 21-18 with 1:11 left in the fourth quarter on a 24-yard passing touchdown from Becht to Sowell before Michigan recovered an onside kick.
Upcoming Matchups in the Big Ten
The Wolverines now prepare to host No. 5 Indiana at Michigan Stadium on Saturday.
Whittingham wasn’t ready to say who would start at quarterback in that game against the Hoosiers. Meanwhile, Penn State enters a bye week before hosting Purdue on Oct. 31.
