Jake Butt has added his voice to the debate around Michigan’s 2023 national championship, saying the title has an asterisk on it. It is a blunt verdict, but one that also lands at a time when Michigan’s offense is under scrutiny and the pressure to fix it is growing.
The broader concern is not just one quarterback. Michigan’s offense has a laundry list of issues to solve, and after the loss to Minnesota, a lot of the blame was placed on Bryce Underwood. That reaction has only sharpened the debate over what Michigan should do next, and when.
The title debate and the standard at Michigan
Butt’s comment matters because it speaks to a bigger question around Michigan’s recent success: how it should be judged, and how much weight should be attached to the championship run. In a program where standards are always high, any suggestion that a title sits under a cloud will inevitably intensify scrutiny.
That scrutiny is not limited to the past. Michigan had a loss to Illinois in 2024, a result that now serves as a benchmark for its worst offensive performance. The point is not simply that Michigan has been inconsistent. It is that the offense has not looked settled enough to remove doubt.
Why Michigan cannot rush the next quarterback call
The timing of any quarterback change also matters. Heading into a bye week, Michigan’s offensive players and staff had time to reflect on the Minnesota loss, and more than a week before Penn State was described as a logical time to start grooming Tommy Carr.
Still, the case against rushing Carr is clear. Throwing a freshman in too early can shake confidence and stunt growth, especially when the offense around him is not stable. Michigan’s issues are bigger than one player, so the better move may be to protect Carr rather than ask him to solve everything at once.
Penn State is also not the place to ease in a new quarterback. Its defense has been sound this season, especially against the pass, which makes that matchup a difficult entry point for any inexperienced passer. After Penn State, Michigan faces Indiana, and October 31 was suggested as the time to start Tommy Carr against Rutgers.
That leaves Michigan with a familiar but uncomfortable choice: keep searching for the right answer now, or wait until the situation is better suited to a young quarterback’s development. Butt’s asterisk comment only adds to the pressure, but the football question remains the same. Michigan must fix the offense first, then decide when the next quarterback is truly ready.
