Urban Meyer news
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The gist
Urban Meyer said Michigan's Week 1 win was tainted and questioned QB Bryce Underwood's readiness.
His comments add pressure before Michigan's Week 2 game against No. 11 Oklahoma.
Background
Michigan beat Western Michigan in its season opener on a second-chance Hail Mary after officials determined one second remained on the clock, a finish that drew scrutiny. Urban Meyer, now a FOX Sports analyst and a former coach close to Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham, spent the following week publicly dissecting the win, quarterback Bryce Underwood's struggles and the team's offensive line. His remarks gained traction because Michigan's next game is a Week 2 showdown with No. 11 Oklahoma.
How it unfolded
- Sep 5, 2026Michigan beat Western Michigan in its season opener on a second-chance Hail Mary after trailing 12-7 with nine seconds remaining; officials ruled one second was left when the ball went out of bounds, and Bryce Underwood's second Hail Mary landed with JJ Buchanan.
- Sep 8, 2026On the Triple Option podcast, Urban Meyer said he is close with Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham, who loves Underwood but considers him physically underdeveloped; Meyer also said on The Joel Klatt Show that Michigan has issues even greater than Underwood, pointing to the offensive line.
- Sep 9, 2026On Fox News' Don't @ Me w/ Dan Dakich, Meyer said 'Western Michigan won that game' and broke down the controversial win, Underwood's rough start and Oklahoma's chances; he also assessed the Michigan quarterback situation, including a possible move to backup Tommy Carr.
- Sep 11, 2026Meyer said he does not think Kyle Whittingham would hesitate to bench Underwood, and broke down Michigan's quarterback situation after Underwood's struggles in the opener.
Who’s saying what
- Analyst
- Urban Meyer said 'Western Michigan won that game' and 'I saw what I saw, there's three zeros on the board,' disputing the controversial finish.
- Analyst
- Meyer said Michigan's issues may be 'even greater' than the quarterback, pointing to a bad offensive line and asking 'What the hell [have they] been doing for the last six weeks?'
- Analyst
- Meyer said Whittingham loves Underwood and sees an incredible future, but the quarterback is 'underdeveloped as far as just physically,' with issues in spatial awareness and progressions.
Still unverified
Meyer said he has 'more intel than most' and relayed what he described as opinions held by Kyle Whittingham, with whom Meyer worked on Utah's coaching staff. Tommy Carr is described as a lightly recruited, widely regarded undersized player, but 'camp whisperers have suggested there's potentially something there.'