Ameek Abdullah Jamal
Michigan’s reported $12 million quarterback Bryce Underwood has been benched, and Kirk Herbstreit believes a gamble like Kyle Whittingham’s decision to trust freshman Tommy Carr could get a coach fired. On the latest episode of the Nonstop podcast, Herbstreit and Joey Galloway discussed Michigan’s quarterback controversy following its 21-18 win over Penn State, questioning whether NIL money and wealthy boosters are complicating coaching decisions.
“And I know by doing that, if it doesn’t work out, you know, you probably get fired,” Herbstreit admitted on the podcast. But the ESPN analyst argued that sticking with an underperforming quarterback could be equally damaging. For Whittingham, the problem is deciding whether to trust an expensive recruit who hasn’t delivered or gamble on an inexperienced backup.
Underwood, the No. 1 prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, flipped from LSU to Michigan with financial backing reportedly involving Larry and Jolin Ellison. Through six games this season, he’s thrown for 924 yards, five touchdowns, and a Big Ten-leading six interceptions while completing 58.1% of his passes. Against Penn State on October 17, he completed five of 11 passes for 43 yards and threw two interceptions, prompting Whittingham to bench him at halftime with Michigan trailing 3-0.
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Galloway opened the debate by asking, “As a coach, how are you handling this situation?” He questioned the difficulty of benching someone making a “truckload of money.”
Herbstreit had little sympathy for the financial dilemma.
“Well, is the goal to win or to keep everybody happy that you’re paying? Well, now, when you start putting business logos on your jersey and having people throw all this money, what do you want to do?” the ESPN analyst said.
He doubled down: “I’m trying to win my freaking game. You’re out. You’re like, ‘No, no, no, I don’t care about any boosters,'” Herbstreit said.
He argued that continuing with the same struggling starter offered little reason to expect different results.
“I’m either going to get the same old same old and lose, or I try something else that might spark the team. It’s worth the risk to me.”
Carr’s performance against Penn State supports that argument. The grandson of former Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr completed five of seven passes for 47 yards, rushed for 36 yards, and scored the decisive 12-yard touchdown with 2:58 remaining. Michigan also rushed for 211 yards and benefited from crucial defensive turnovers, with Whittingham crediting the offensive line for its best half of the season.
The victory improved Michigan to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten, but Whittingham hasn’t named his starter for Saturday’s matchup against No. 6 Indiana.
