Bryce Underwood threw two interceptions and managed just 43 yards passing as Michigan trailed Penn State 3-0 at the break.
Michigan had seen enough. Head coach Kyle Whittingham pulled sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood at halftime of Saturday's game against Penn State, handing the offense to true freshman Tommy Carr.
Underwood's first half was rough even by the standards of Michigan's recent struggles: 5 of 11 passing for 43 yards, two interceptions, and no touchdowns. The Wolverines managed only 80 total yards before the break, 37 of them on the ground, and trailed 3-0 to a Penn State team that had entered the day 0-3 in Big Ten play. Fans had been asking for this move for weeks, and after consecutive losses, Whittingham finally made it.
Carr did not waste the opportunity. After Michigan punted on its first possession of the third quarter, the freshman led back-to-back touchdown drives, pushing the Wolverines ahead 14-3. It is a small sample, but for a program searching for answers at quarterback, it is the first real sign of life in a while.
The change marks a significant moment in Whittingham's first season at Michigan, as the staff looks for any spark to salvage the offense down the stretch.