Joel Klatt: Kyle Whittingham 'Not Tied To' Bryce Underwood Amid QB Struggles

Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham did not recruit Bryce Underwood.

He wasn't involved in the massive NIL deal that brought Underwood to Ann Arbor.

And he certainly wasn't the coach who named the former No.

1 overall recruit the starting quarterback as a true freshman.

That could make what happens next between Whittingham and Underwood — who struggled in the Wolverines' narrow Week 1 win over in-state foe Western Michigan — particularly interesting.

"Kyle Whittingham is not tied to Bryce Underwood," FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt said Wednesday on "The Herd." "It was not Kyle's decision to give Bryce Underwood the NIL deal.

He's not as tied to Underwood as the previous coaching staff." That dynamic could come into focus quickly Saturday, when Michigan hosts No.

11 Oklahoma in one of the most intriguing games of Week 2.

Underwood's first game under Whittingham didn't exactly go according to plan.

The sophomore quarterback — recruited to Michigan by former head coach Sherrone Moore and his staff — completed just 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and two turnovers in the win.

Earlier this week, Whittingham made it clear that Underwood's status as Michigan's starting quarterback isn't necessarily permanent.

"He's our QB right now, and it's not something that's infinite," Whittingham said.

"At some point, we've got to turn a corner." Underwood appeared surprised Wednesday when a reporter asked him about his coach's comments.

"There were comments about that?" Underwood said.