Michigan will stick with Bryce Underwood as the starting quarterback

ANN ARBOR – Bryce Underwood remains Michigan's quarterback and Jason Beck the team's offensive coordinator as the limping Wolverines , coming off a bye after back-to-back Big Ten losses, prepare for Penn State.

Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham, in his first year with the program, after the loss to Minnesota on Oct. 3 called this season – the Wolverines are 3-2, 0-2 Big Ten – "maybe the biggest challenge I've had" in 40-plus years of coaching. But he also said while he would evaluate the players and coaches, this wasn't a time to panic.

That said, the only major change he's seeking as the Wolverines press forward with seven remaining regular-season games is in terms of fixing the turnover margin and protecting the ball. The Rhino package, utilizing an extra lineman and a big part of Beck's offense, will continue, Whittingham said.

"Jason will call plays and Bryce is our guy and we move forward," Whittingham said Monday, Oct.12 at his weekly news conference. "All positive but continuing to stress to everybody about the importance of taking care of the ball. And with (Underwood) touching the ball every single snap, he's a big part of that. If we don't get this turnover thing fixed rapidly, then something's got to give."

Underwood had two interceptions on back-to-back throws against Minnesota, and the Wolverines also had a fumble on punt return, which will see a change from Andrew Marsh this weekend against Penn State. Michigan is minus-4 in turnover margin, among the nation's worst, and had four interceptions and five fumbles.

Backup quarterback Tommy Carr took half the snaps with the first team last week, but Whittingham said that was by design as the second-teamers got more work during a bye week. Whittingham did not rule out giving Carr a series or inserting him in games as a changeup to Underwood.

"To be determined," Whittingham said. "He sure looks good in practice like he has throughout spring and fall camp. And his small, tiny sample size that he had in the (UTEP) game was positive. But right now, like I said, Bryce is our guy, and if we think that giving Tommy a series or two helps our chance to win, then you will see that."

Who you won't see returning punts is Marsh, who has twice muffed punt returns this season.

"We'll have a different returner back there, and that's due to a couple of reasons, not just putting the ball on the ground, but some injury reasons," Whittingham said. "And so we will have a different returner - I won't say who that is yet - returning punts this week."

▶Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor

▶Records: Michigan is 3-2, 0-2 Big Ten; Penn State is 3-3, 0-3.

▶Series: Michigan leads 17-10 (Last meeting: Michigan defeated Penn State 24-15 on Nov. 11, 2023).