Michigan freshman quarterback Tommy Carr to make first start vs Indiana
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The gist
Michigan freshman Tommy Carr will make his first start Saturday against No. 6 Indiana, replacing benched Bryce Underwood.
The switch follows Carr's three-touchdown-drive relief outing in a 21-18 win over Penn State.
Background
Tommy Carr is a Michigan freshman quarterback and a legacy recruit: grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, who led the Wolverines to the 1997 national championship, and younger brother of Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr. He committed to Michigan in November 2025 and had made only one brief appearance, against UTEP, before the Penn State game. The change is performance-related: Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class, had started every game since arriving at Michigan but this season completed 58.1% of his passes with eight turnovers against seven total touchdowns, and fans had called for a change despite a 4-2 start.
How it unfolded
- Nov 16, 2025Tommy Carr announced his commitment to Michigan.
- Sep 19, 2026Carr played briefly against UTEP at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, his only appearance before the Penn State game.
- Oct 17, 2026Michigan trailed visiting Penn State 3-0 at halftime; coach Kyle Whittingham replaced Bryce Underwood with Carr, who led three second-half touchdown drives and scored on a 12-yard run with 2:58 left in a 21-18 win. Carr went 5-of-7 for 47 yards and ran four times for 36 yards and a touchdown.
- Oct 19, 2026Michigan coaches decided on the starting quarterback, according to Whittingham.
- Oct 20, 2026CBS Sports first reported Underwood had been benched in favor of Carr; ON3 reported Carr would get the nod with Underwood as backup.
- Oct 21, 2026Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports reported, according to sources, that Carr will be the starter.
- Oct 23, 2026ESPN confirmed with a source that Carr will make his first start Saturday against No. 6 Indiana.
- Oct 24, 2026Carr makes his first career start for Michigan against defending national champion Indiana; kickoff noon ET on Fox at Michigan Stadium.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Whittingham said the staff knows its plan going forward but won't tip its hand to the opponent, and praised Carr's second-half performance as smooth and efficient.
- Analysts
- Jason Beck, speaking on "Inside Michigan Football," explained that turnovers brought about the switch.
- Caution
- Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said at his own press conference he expected it to be Tommy Carr rather than Bryce Underwood starting.
Still unverified
Carr's starting status was initially reported by CBS Sports and ON3 and by 247 Sports' Matt Zenitz "according to sources" before ESPN confirmed the move with a source; Whittingham had declined earlier in the week to name a starter.