Nick Saban sends honest comment on Michigan benching Bryce Underwood for Tommy Carr

The Michigan Wolverines are making a quarterback change.

Michigan benched Bryce Underwood going into the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions for Tommy Carr, who helped the Wolverines get the win. After the game, head coach Kyle Whittingham admitted he wasn’t sure who would start the next game.

Reports indicate Michigan is expected to turn to Carr as the starting quarterback for Michigan’s home game against the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday. It’s a bold call, as Underwood was the top-ranked quarterback out of high school a year ago and was reportedly handed $12 million in NIL.

After making the decision, legendary Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban liked Whittingham’s decision, as he believes the competition will be good.

“I think competition is good and Tommy Carr gave that team a shot in the arm last week..
Michigan can play really good on defense they just need their QB to manage the game” ~ Coach Saban#PMSLivepic.twitter.com/oB6o5nDcKY

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 23, 2026

“I think competition is good,” Saban said on The Pat McAfee Show on Friday. “I think that complacency is actually bad, and when somebody thinks they’re not responsible [to] perform well, that’s probably not good for you as an individual and it’s probably not good for your teammates who are looking at you to play a little better and do a little more for your team.

“I’m not in that situation, so I don’t know what gives them the best opportunity to win. But based on last week’s performance, it was certainly a shot in the arm for Michigan when Tommy Carr came in.”

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In relief of Underwood against Penn State, Carr completed 5-of-7 passes for 47 yards in the air while rushing for 36 yards and a touchdown.

Although he’s not a top-end quarterback, Carr managed the offense well, which is what Saban believes is all Michigan needs, given their defense.

“Look, Michigan can play really good on defense,” Saban said. “So if they can just play okay and the quarterback can just be efficient in how they manage the game – run the ball, stay ahead of the sticks, don’t turn it over, play really good on defense – they still have a chance to be a good football team. But they’ve got to win that way.”

The Wolverines are 4-2 and need to run the table to have any chance of reaching the postseason. Yet their defense is legit, and perhaps Carr can make the offense much better than Underwood’s.

Kyle Whittingham has confidence in Tommy Carr

Michigan is expected to turn to Carr, although the Wolverines won’t make the decision public.

Earlier this week, Whittingham was asked about Carr and admitted he was impressed with his play and what he did for the offense.

“We just had a lot more production in the second half,” Whittingham said. “You know, we went to Tommy. That provided the spark that we were looking for, and that was the whole intent of making the changes. We hadn’t got much going in the first half, obviously. I think we had 80 yards total and zero points. So it was good to see Tommy come in under pretty difficult circumstances for a first-year guy and respond.”

He also said that if Carr is the starter, he will have the full playbook at his disposal to take the offense to the next level.

“Full playbook, yep,” Whittingham said. “Not a quarterback that I’ve ever been around that studies any more than Tommy Carr. And his football IQ is off the charts. I mean, he’s got a football mind. He’s a football junkie, and he is a real student of the game.”

Carr was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2026 and now has a chance to lead Michigan in his true freshman season.

Related: Bryce Underwood’s time at Michigan should be over as QB goes down as an all-time NIL bust

This story was originally published by Lindy's Sports on Oct 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Lindy's Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.