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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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After Michigan's near-loss to Western Michigan in their first game of the college football season, head coach Kyle Whittingham suggested that Bryce Underwood could get benched this season.
Those eye-opening comments prompted a 12-year NFL veteran to sound off on Underwood's situation at Michigan, suggesting he should "be done" with the team regardless of how he plays moving forward.
"If I'm Bryce Underwood, if I play good or bad, I'm done with Michigan," T.J. Houshmandzadeh told fellow former NFL player Emmanuel Acho on the "Speakeasy" sports talk show. "He should have gone to LSU to begin with. You go to LSU, you start at LSU, you're gonna be a first-round pick."
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Houshmandzadeh, a 2007 NFL Pro Bowl selection, spent most of his career playing for the Cincinnati Bengals. During his podcast rant, he also mentioned that Michigan didn't play through their previous quarterback before Underwood received the starting job.
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"You think they're gonna play through you?" he asked. "I want him to succeed because Kyle Whittingham has all but said, Bryce Underwood is getting benched this year."
"Rarely do we see a coach make these type of statements," Houshmandzadeh said, adding that they're usually addressed privately in team situations.
The irony of Houshmandzadeh's remarks is that the heavily recruited Underwood flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan in 2024. He's now playing under first-year Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham rather than first-year LSU head coach Lane Kiffin.
In Michigan's 2026 season-opening game, Underwood had an underwhelming performance, completing 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards and a Hail Mary touchdown in a surprising and controversial win.
He had nine runs for 47 yards and a touchdown, but his team fell behind 12-7 in the fourth quarter and Michigan looked on the verge of losing after being favored to win by 27 points or more.
In his first game of the season, Underwood was also sacked, fumbled the ball, and threw an interception, finishing the Wolverines' opening game with a super-low 36.7 QBR.
This week, Michigan dropped out of the AP Top 25 poll and fell to No. 24 in the AFCA Coaches Poll after starting the season ranked No. 16 overall.
Following the game, Whittingham addressed the terrible first game, suggesting they'd "need to see improvement" from Underwood and that his job as starting QB is "not something that's infinite."
As a freshman in 2025, Underwood compiled over 2,400 passing yards and 11 touchdowns, but also nine interceptions and was sacked 20 times.
He will have an opportunity to bounce back by leading the Wolverines in a strong performance in Michigan's next game on Saturday. However, that game features a ranked opponent, Oklahoma, who could give Underwood trouble in his second start of the season.
Michigan hosts the No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 12 p.m. ET.
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