Kyle Whittingham Clears The Air On Quarterback Bryce Underwood's Status

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Bryce Underwood didn't need to put together a spectacular passing performance for Michigan to pull off one of the biggest wins of the season. 

He just needed to make plays.

That's exactly what the Wolverines' young quarterback did on Saturday.

Michigan entered its matchup with No. 11 Oklahoma as a 4.5-point underdog after barely escaping Western Michigan the previous week. Instead of folding against a nationally ranked opponent, the Wolverines came out and played much better, winning 17-10.

Underwood was a major part of that victory.

The passing numbers weren't eye-popping. He completed 9 of 17 attempts for 111 yards, averaging 6.5 yard per attempt. He didn't throw a touchdown or an interception, but he also avoided the mistakes that could have changed the game.

Where Underwood really made his impact was on the ground.

The quarterback carried the ball 18 times for 87 yards and a touchdown, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. His longest run was a 38-yard touchdown, and his ability to create with his legs consistently gave Michigan another dimension offensively. 

Earlier in the week Kyle Whittingham said that Bryce's job was "not infinite" and the media ran with it, making it seem like the sophomore was close to getting benched. When asked about that after the win, Whittingham got a little bit defensive, which seemed appropriate. 

“I never made those comments. I was asked if his job was infinitely etched in stone. Whose job is ever etched in stone? I never brought that up or eluded to that," he said. "So that was my answer. … So I don't agree that I opened that can of worms because Bryce is our quarterback, and that's where we are right now.”

Once those comments were made, Whittingham then talked about Bryce's performance and how it led to a huge in over Oklahoma. That's the type of play that makes Whittingham's continued support of his young QB particularly important.

Underwood is still developing as a passer, and there are undoubtedly areas of his game that need to improve. But Saturday showed why Michigan believes so strongly in what he can become.

He didn't have to be perfect against Oklahoma. He simply had to be dependable, protect the football and take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. He did that while also becoming one of Michigan's most productive rushing threats.

The Wolverines definitely need Underwood to continue developing, and Saturday was another step in that process. For a quarterback as talented as Underwood, that's an encouraging trend. 

With Whittingham continuing to stand behind Underwood, Michigan can afford to let its young signal caller grow while winning football games along the way.

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