Michigan Turns to Freshman Tommy Carr for First Career Start Against No. 6 Indiana

Michigan is expected to start freshman Tommy Carr at quarterback on Saturday against No. 6 Indiana. Bryce Underwood, the former top recruit who opened the season as the starter, moves to the bench. CBS Sports reported the decision, citing Matt Zenitz, and SB Nation and Michigan Wolverines On SI reached the same conclusion.

The change grew out of last Saturday's 21-18 win over Penn State. Michigan went scoreless in the first half and trailed 3-0 at the break after Underwood threw two interceptions. Carr came on to start the second half and led three scoring drives, finishing the job himself with a 12-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. His stat line was modest: 5 of 7 passing for 47 yards, plus 36 rushing yards on four carries. But the offense looked like a different unit with him in the game.

Carr had played in only one other game this season, a blowout of UTEP, and has fewer than 50 career snaps. Head coach Kyle Whittingham declined on Monday to name a starter publicly, saying only that the staff had made its decision. He did go out of his way to praise Carr's preparation, telling Michigan Wolverines On SI that the freshman's "football IQ is off the charts." Whittingham also said he has never liked using two quarterbacks, so Underwood looks set to play only if Carr is hurt or struggles badly.

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Carr is the grandson of Lloyd Carr, who coached Michigan to the 1997 national title. His first start comes against the reigning national champions.

What it means for Saturday

It is a tough assignment for a first start. Indiana is 6-1, and its only loss came by 19-15 to No. 4 Ohio State last week. Across seven games the Hoosiers have outscored opponents 256-90 and posted two shutouts, though their last three Big Ten games were closer: 20-17 at Nebraska, then the Ohio State loss, with a 29-23 win over Northwestern before that.

Michigan, 4-2, has lived on thin margins. Five of its six games have been decided by seven points or fewer, including one-point losses to Iowa and a six-point loss at Minnesota sandwiched around the Penn State escape. Outside a 52-17 win over UTEP, the Wolverines have not scored more than 21 points in a game. That is the gap Carr is being asked to close.

The board on this site lists Indiana at Michigan across 12 venues, and Indiana is a clear favorite on the road. Novig has the Hoosiers at -257 on the moneyline and Michigan at +245. The best Michigan price anywhere is +250 at Hard Rock Bet, so the venues are close on the outright result. They differ more on the spread. Novig has Indiana favored by 7.5 at +108, while bet365 has the Hoosiers at -6.5 for -128, a full point apart. The total sits at 41.5 on Novig, a low number that fits Michigan's recent scoring. Sportsbook hold on the moneyline runs from 3.8% to 5.8%.

Kickoff is Saturday, October 24, in Ann Arbor on Fox.