Kyle Whittingham seems to be soft-launching benching quarterback Bryce Underwood. Meanwhile, TTUN's backup quarterback is true freshman Tommy Carr.
The Wolverines seem to be in big trouble.
Ipso facto, it's never been a better time to be the Maize and Blue's main rival, the Ohio State University. Especially after a 56-3 Week 1 win over Ball State confirmed so many positives about what the 2026 roster can accomplish.
Whittingham is making the smart coaching move, or hinting at eventually making it, after the largely uninspiring results from the controversial Western Michigan non-loss in Week 1. It just seems too late.
Offensive coordinator Jason Beck likely knew Underwood wasn't the right guy in the offseason, but TTUN wasn't going to allow Underwood to be benched before the season even started.
Remember, Underwood signed a four-year NIL deal valued at roughly $11 million. There was a massive bidding war for his services coming out of Belleville.
Tom Brady, Barstool Sports founder/court jester Dave Portnoy, and Oracle co-founder/alleged reptile in a human skin suit Larry Ellison all helped land Underwood with their unfathomable wealth. Frankly, the trio deserves exactly what is coming to them, with their money being set on fire as Underwood proves he isn't ready for the role he's been given and promised.
Underwood is, by all means, a good kid and a good leader. He simply signed up for the wrong school at the wrong time. After his freshman year, the head coach was fired in disgrace, and the AD who oversaw all the Sherrone Moore scandals is on the way out. LSU probably looks like a better option in hindsight. Brian Kelly, Lane Kiffin's former NFL player hijinks, and all.
It's a poorly timed collapse from Underwood under the first-year Wolverines head coach Whittingham. This new era is seemingly stalling before it really even starts.
Oklahoma could end the Bryce Underwood era in Week 2
Oklahoma could be the Grim Reaper to the Underwood era this coming Saturday. The Sooners' potential dominance over the Wolverines may force Whittingham to go with another quarterback he didn't recruit in Carr.
OU could force uncomfortable questions for TTUN's coaching staff and then force an uncomfortable answer.
Because of that, Week 2 could end up being the greatest weekend of the year for the Buckeyes. Imagine watching the "Big House" lose it over the state of the Wolverines' football product in 2026?
Of course, OSU has to handle its own business on Saturday, too.
OSU can have best Week 2 with win over Texas, OU win over TTUN
One of the Buckeyes' biggest games of the year takes place Saturday night in Austin against Texas. That will be a tough matchup on paper, with Ohio State entering as a slight underdog.
Overcome that game, and the Buckeyes are in a great position to make the CFP. Three wins might be enough to get the job done with their schedule, and there aren't many losable games on the slate as it looks now, if the Longhorns aren't one of them.
Meanwhile, Underwood may have already gotten yanked by then, and TTUN may have already started its free fall during the Big Noon Kickoff window.
Week 2 has the chance to be the most significant weekend of the year in the Big Ten. It could be when Ohio State proves definitively that it's the team to beat, and it could be the official end to any thought that the Wolverines belong in the conversation.
Saturday can't get here soon enough.
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