What We've Learned About Michigan Football's QB2 Battle Behind Bryce Underwood

Bryce Underwood is the starter in 2026, but what is happening in the backup race?

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There is no debate on who Michigan's starting quarterback is entering 2026. It's Bryce Underwood, but the Wolverines are still trying to figure out who is going to be Underwood's primary backup.

The Wolverines went out and landed Colorado State veteran Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, who played four seasons with the Rams. But he wasn't in Ann Arbor for the spring, and that paved way for true freshman Tommy Carr.

Carr stole the show in Michigan's spring game this past April. He showcased his athleticism and put the ball where it needed to be through the air. However, as fall camp began, Fowler-Nicolosi appeared and he is starting to push for the backup job behind Underwood.

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"Yeah, it's been really good," Beck said of the QB2 battle. "You know, the initial first three, five, six practices, Tommy just had a clear advantage because he was so much more familiar. And even though, Brayden — you're studying in the summer and you're doing all this, once you get in there, it's totally different, right?

"And so that first little bit was he was kind of swimming. But within the last week, he's totally settled down and really closed the gap. As you'd expect, he's kind of been there, does a lot of really good things and has a lot of experience. And so he's really closed that gap of those two kind of going back and forth. So the last – this whole week, they've just been splitting all the two reps and just kind of battling it out.

Carr and Fowler-Nicolosi bring different skill sets to the table

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Carr's ability was on full display in the spring. He is able to get outside of the pocket and extend plays with his legs, or he can tuck the ball and go. Carr is more raw than what Fowler-Nicolosi would be in the passing game, but Carr's ability to throw the ball was impressive back in April.

As for Fowler-Nicolosi, he has proven production. He has accounted for 6,938 yards and 38 touchdowns during his career with Colorado State, however, interceptions were an issue with 29 interceptions.

"Tommy's a little more mobile, a little more of a threat in the run game to pull and take off, has a great sense of extending plays and doing things kind of impromptu," Beck said. "Where Brayden has a pretty big-time arm. And when he makes his decision, gets the foot in the ground, that ball's coming out and he throws it really well, really accurate and does a nice job that way."

Would the mobile QB win?

Jason Beck enjoys to run his quarterback. Devon Dampier was proof of that in each of the last two seasons at both New Mexico and Michigan. The Wolverines are planning on using Bryce Underwood's legs this season, and allow him to showcase his running ability.

Fowler-Nicolosi is more of a pocket passer, whereas Carr can obviously run and extend plays. If the backup would need to come in, it's going to come down to keeping similar plays in the playbook with Carr under center and allowing him to run, or place the veteran behind center, who will get the job done through the air.

That's a question that Beck and Co. will need to figure out ahead of Michigan's Sept. 5 game against Western Michigan.