Michigan's Whittingham backs Underwood after upset of Oklahoma

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham doesn't read "one thing" in the media, but he was aware that his comments this past week about quarterback Bryce Underwood caused a stir.Whittingham said Monday that Underwood's status as the starter, like other players at Michigan, wasn't infinite, raising the alert level heading into Saturday's home game against No. 11 Oklahoma. Was Underwood playing for his job? Absolutely not, Whittingham said following Michigan's 17-10 upset of Oklahoma."I was asked if his job was infinitely and etched in stone. Whose job is ever etched in stone?" Whittingham said. "So that was my answer. ... I don't agree that I opened that can of worms, because Bryce is our quarterback, and that's where we are right now."Whittingham addressed the situation with Underwood during the practice week and got the response he wanted from the sophomore, as Michigan recorded its first win as an unranked team against a AP top-15 opponent since 2008 against Wisconsin."I said, 'Hey, here's what came out, and he said, 'Cool, doesn't bother me, coach. I'm just going to go to work and do my thing,'" Whittingham said. "That's exactly what you want your quarterback to say."Underwood executed a run-heavy game plan against the Sooners, recording a career-high 18 rushes for a team-high 87 yards and a touchdown in the win. Michigan's defense did the rest, limiting Oklahoma's run game and flustering quarterback John Mateer, who completed just 17 of 33 passes in the loss.Cornerback Jyaire Hill's interception of Mateer in the fourth quarter set up Michigan's only score in the second half, a 1-yard Jordan Marshall run. Michigan has allowed only one touchdown in its first two games. The Wolverines are the fifth team in last 20 seasons to start 2-0 with fewer than 300 yards in each win."The defense is holding down the fort while that maturation process [on offense] takes place," Whittingham said. "The defense is keeping us in games, but the offense was markedly better, even if the numbers weren't markedly better."Underwood attempted only four passes for 15 yards in the second half, and did not throw in the final 10:58. He completed seven passes for 96 yards in the first half."My team was the main thing for the reason behind the 18 carries," Underwood said. "My guys trusted me to carry the ball."Michigan's captains held a players' meeting following the Western Michigan game, emphasizing the need for greater energy and a tougher mentality."I wouldn't say we're worried too much about our offense," defensive end John Henry Daley said. "Offense is going to handle their business. We're one team. ... We've got a standard of play that we try to go out there every single drive and dominate."Whittingham said Michigan came into the Oklahoma game with a run-heavy approach, hoping to establish its identity at the line of scrimmage after struggling against Western Michigan. Although primary backs Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter combined for only 38 rushing yards on 19 carries, Underwood found room, including a 38-yard touchdown dash to cap a 91-yard scoring drive.Underwood almost doubled up Mateer (45 yards) in rushing, which Whittingham noted after the game."It was going to be heavier run than it was pass, and I think it played out exactly that way," Whittingham said. "We won the time of possession by you know six or seven minutes, whereas last week we got crushed in that in that statistic. But that's the plan going in. Now we understand, we you know there's going to be weeks where we got to be able to throw the ball a lot better than we're throwing it right now."Through two games, Underwood has 281 passing yards and a touchdown, on the 47-yard Hail Mary to beat Western Michigan. But Whittingham saw clear improvement from Week 1.He added that offensive coordinator Jason Beck's offense gained more traction as the 2025 season went along at Utah, and the same is expected with Underwood and Michigan."Much better, and he's got even more," Whittingham said of Underwood. "If we can see an upward trajectory with him throughout the year, we're going to be real tough to beat."