ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Bryce Underwood got benched and Tommy Carr was given a chance to lead Michigan's lackluster offense. Carr took advantage in a 21-18 win over Penn State on Saturday.
Kyle Whittingham, in his first season as coach of college football's winningest program, made the move in the third quarter when the Wolverines (3-2, 1-2 Big Ten) were trailing the Nittany Lions 3-0 at halftime.
“The idea at halftime was to create a spark, and Tommy did just that,” Whittingham said.
Carr provided a spark, helping Michigan score two touchdowns in the third quarter, and his 12-yard touchdown run gave the team a two-score lead it needed for a win to avoid starting 0-3 in the Big Ten for the first time since 1967.
“To score that touchdown to seal the game was huge,” Carr said.
Tommy Carr's brother is Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, grandson of 1997 national championship winning coach Lloyd Carr and College Football Hall of Fame defensive back Tom Curtis, a former Wolverine. Tommy Carr is the son of Michigan graduates, including former walk-on quarterback Jason Carr.
Underwood's job has been in jeopardy since his shaky performance in a disputed season-opening win over Western Michigan.
He threw two interceptions in the second quarter against Penn State. On the first pick, receiver Andrew Marsh had his hands on a deep pass and lost control of the football that landed in defensive back Zion Tracy's hands. On the second interception, Underwood lofted a pass that cornerback Josiah Zayas snagged with one hand.
It was his fifth interception in three games and sixth this season, surpassing his total of five passing touchdowns.
Underwood arrived on campus last year as the nation's No. 1 recruit. He flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan after Oracle founder Larry Ellison and Tom Brady became involved with the recruitment that included a financial package worth about $12 million over three years in revenue sharing and NIL deals.
He did not approach the hype during his freshman year, throwing 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and didn't do himself any favors with comments before the season started.
“I feel like nobody’s seen a freshman like me,” Underwood said in an interview last year with the Big Ten Network.
Underwood also predicted he would win “a couple Heismans and at least one natty,” in an interview on “The Rich Eisen Show," shortly after signing with Michigan.
Underwood even looked shaky in the spring game earlier this year and didn't do enough to hold onto his job this season.
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Michigan quarterback Tommy Carr (14) high-fives fans as he runs off the field after defeating Penn State in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Alex McPherson kicked a game-winning 34-yard field goal as time expired and Auburn, led by quarterback Byrum Brown's dominant running game, upset No. 1 Georgia 27-24 on Saturday.
It’s the second straight week the top team in the AP Top 25 lost to an unranked foe after then-No. 1 Texas fell to Oklahoma last Saturday. Auburn’s win meant the team ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 lost in consecutive weeks for the first time since October 1990, according to ESPN.
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton led a long game-tying touchdown drive in the fourth quarter but lost a fumble with 58 seconds remaining and the Bulldogs driving for a potential go-ahead field goal.
Stockton, who also threw two interceptions, fumbled on a run from the Auburn 46. Safety Sylvester Smith-Reed recovered for the Tigers at the Auburn 44. A roughing-the-passer penalty on Georgia's Gabe Harris Jr. helped set up McPherson's game-winning kick. Auburn players swarmed the field.
“It’s pretty neat,” said Auburn first-year coach Alex Golesh. “I’m really proud of our guys. Really proud of them.
“We’re going to build Auburn back to where everybody wants it, one game at a time. Just hang with us.”
Brown ran for 115 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries and added a scoring pass.
Georgia (6-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) saw its streaks of nine straight wins over Auburn and 53 consecutive wins over unranked teams come to an end in a loss that also will end the Bulldogs’ short one-week stay atop the AP Top 25.
Auburn (4-2, 2-2) beat the Bulldogs on the ground, outrushing Georgia 192-113. Tailback Nate Frazier returned from a rib injury to start for Georgia but was ineffective, gaining only 19 yards on nine carries.
Georgia trailed 24-14 before rallying with a 42-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring. Stockton led a tying touchdown drive that began at the Georgia 6 and covered 94 yards in 13 plays, capped by his 4-yard pass to London Humphreys.
Stockton’s two interceptions doubled his previous season total through six games. The Bulldogs also were hurt by mistakes, including three personal foul penalties.
“We helped them,” said Georgia coach Kirby Smart. “We had three turnovers and critical penalties. ... We had some really, really untimely, uncharacteristic and undisciplined penalties.”
After Georgia took a 14-0 lead, Auburn scored the next 24 points.
Georgia looked dominant in the opening minutes, even after Stockton had to leave after hitting the field helmet-first on the first play of the game. Ryan Puglisi completed each of his three passes, including a 41-yarder to Craig Dandridge Jr., before Dwight Phillips’ 15-yard scoring run.
Stockton returned for the next possession and threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Lawson Luckie for the 14-0 lead.
Auburn responded with a physical run-first attack led by the 235-pound Brown, who was effective both on designed runs and when taking off after dropping back to pass.
Top-ranked teams had won 93 consecutive home games against unranked teams since LSU lost to Arkansas 50-48 in two overtimes on Nov. 23, 2007.
Auburn's first touchdown came on a trick play. Brown pitched to wide receiver Christian Neptune who launched a 28-yard touchdown pass to Keshaun Singleton. Georgia defensive backs Ja'Marley Riddle and Ellis Robinson IV collided in the end zone. Riddle was the fill-in starter for KJ Bolden, who wore a walking boot on his right foot and did not play.
It was Neptune's second completion — and second touchdown pass — of the season.
Brown completed 15 of 26 passes for 150 yards and one touchdown.
Smart said Stockton was cleared after being checked for a concussion following the opening drive but also was seen by trainers following a hit to his throwing shoulder.
“He had a stinger in his shoulder that numbs your shoulder,” Smart said. “That happens a lot in football.”
Stockton completed 22 of 34 passes for 272 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Auburn: The Tigers, coming off an open week, scored the final 17 points of the first half in an impressive answer to giving up the first 14 points. Brown threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Chas Nimrod, but his lead role in the Tigers’ running attack was most valuable. Brown wore down the Georgia defense with his physical runs. Jeremiah Cobb also was effective, running for 61 yards, as the running back complement to Brown’s lead role.
Georgia: One week after a much-anticipated 20-17 win at No. 6 Alabama, the Bulldogs appeared to fade in the second quarter as its defense was on the field for 45 plays in the first half. The failure to maintain momentum after taking a 14-0 lead on its first two possessions was due to more than fatigue, however.
A personal foul on a late hit on Brown by freshman linebacker Khamari Brooks was the big play in Auburn’s tying touchdown drive. Stockton looked at intended receiver Humphreys too long on a pass that was intercepted by Anquon Fegans later in the first half.
Auburn plays No. 22 Louisiana State, which beat No. 16 Mississippi State 31-0 on Saturday, at Auburn next Saturday.
Georgia has an off week before playing Florida, which upset No. 7 Texas 27-24 on Saturday, on Oct. 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
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Georgia linebacker Gabe Harris Jr. (0) fights for position against Auburn offensive lineman Jacob Strand, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
