The Kyle Whittingham era soft launched today in Ann Arbor.
Michigan football’s work this spring started back on March 17 and finished with the 15th practice that came in the form of the annual Maize vs. Blue scrimmage on Saturday, April 18 (2 p.m., Big Ten Network) at Michigan Stadium.
It wasn’t a full cast of characters for the Wolverines, but quarterback Bryce Underwood got the start and attempted nine passes and the game still provided a chance to get a look at the schemes on both sides of the ball.
Backup quarterbacks Tommy Carr and Chase Herbstreit got a lot of playing time, with Carr impressing Whittingham with his poise and quickness.
In the end, the Maize squad narrowly defeated the Blue team, 7-6, in an ugly scrimmage, but one that Whittingham said the team got what it needed from.
Here’s what you need to know for the game, including time, TV channel and live updates:
Michigan football spring game Maize vs. Blue live updates
Final: Maize 7, Blue 6.
Blue team tried to run the clock out, but was unable to pick up a first down which gave the ball back to the Maize team, but Chase Herbstreit was sacked on third and long which allowed Maize to get the ball one last time on the plus-44 with 1:52 left and one timeout.
Carr was quarterback and on second-and-10 appeared to throw an interception, only for Browder to rip it away with one-hand over the middle for an impressive snag. Carr then found Eli Owens for consecutive out-routes to get to the 15, before a completion to Pile made it second-and-four at the nine with 1:12 to play. Another in-route to Pile made it first-and-goal at the 5 with 1:03 left.
Three O’Meara runs later, he plunged into the endzone before the extra point gave Maize the 7-6 lead with 17 seconds to play. Herbstreit completed a pass over the middle to Deakon Tonielli to the Maize 40, which set up one chance for a Hail Mary, but it was batted down by Max Reyes to end the game
Maize comes up empty in red zone again
Carr started the drive with an absolutely perfect deep ball up the right sideline to Jamar Browder for what should’ve been a touchdown, but he dropped it. Two plays later, the two connected on third-and-9 on a crossing route for a gain of eight, setting up fourth-and-1 with five minutes left.
Carr took off for a gain of 17, then a hold on the defense moved the ball forward another 10 yards to the Blue 12 yardline. That’s where they were on fourth-and-10 with less than three minutes to play when Carr dropped back and waited, before he threw a heave for Pile that fell incomplete in the back of the endzone with 2:35 to play.
Blue goes three-and-out (7:00 minutes left)
The Blue team took over on its one yard line and appeared to get out to the 30 on a lengthy run by Jonathan Brown, but it was called back for a hold and on third-and-two, Brown was stuffed which set up Maize at midfield.
Blue team stuffs Maize on goal line in fourth quarter
Carr found Moa on two passes in a row to pick up 13 yards to get to midfield before he completed a 20-yard strike to Kendrick Bell, the longest play of the day. Thomas O’Meara ran the next two plays for 14 yards, then later on third-and-8, Carr scrambled and picked up nine to set up first and goal.
Three plays later, it was fourth-and-goal from the 1, when Bobby Kanka and Markel Dabney absolutely hammered O’Meara on a handoff, just short of the endzone, for a clutch goal line stand to keep the maize team off the board.
Blue 6, Maize 0 (4:21 left Q3)
Jaime Ffrench made his mark on this drive, catches three passes. He started with a swing pass to the right and another to the left that combined for nine yards, before Hiter ran on three consecutive plays and picked up a combined 19 yards.
Then, on first-and-10 from the 37, Carr found Ffrench on a curl along the right boundary, who then spun out of an attempted tackle by Shamari Earls and picked up 11. The drive would stall and Stuart Blake drilled a 39-yard kick to make it a 6-0 lead with 4:21 left Q3.
Halftime stats
Bryce Underwood (Both teams): 3 for 9 passing for 22 yards, two rushes for a loss of five yards
Tommy Carr (Both teams): 6-for-8 passing for 39 yards, seven rushes for 42 yards
RUSHING: Jordan Marshall (Blue), Five rushes for 21 yards; Savion Hiter (Blue), Six rushes for 17 yards; Bryson Kuzdzal (Maize) two rushes for four yards
RECEIVING (Maize): Hogan Hansen, Two catches for 18 yards; Eli Owens, one catch for 16 yards; Salesi Moa, one catch for 11 yards
RECEIVING (Blue): Jordan Marshall, two receptions for six yards, Jaime Ffrench, one catch for six yards; Jacob Washington, one catch for five yards
HALF: Blue 3, Maize 0
Carr led a nice two minute drive to end the half. He started with a few scrambles, hit Hogan Hansen for a medium sized gain, scrambled again for a first down and then perhaps the most eye-popping play of the day. His pass on the right hash to Salesi Moa was well behind the true freshman, who stuck out his right paw and snared the pass in the open field for a gain of 11.
Carr scrambled for another first down which set up first and goal with seven seconds left, but he couldn’t connect with Jaylen Pile in the back of the end zone. That set up a 29-yard field goal try for Trey Butkowski from the left hash, but he pushed it wide.
Q2: Blue 3, Maize 0 (1:16 left)
Underwood’s day is done and Tommy Carr has entered on offense for the blue team to begin the second quarter. The teams are tackling now and the first play was Benny Patterson wrapping up Savion Hiter at the line of scrimmage. On third-and-5, Carr hits Jamie Ffrench on a slant for a pickup of six to move the sticks.
Carr was faced with third-and-12 on the next set of downs (after Nate Marshall came away with his second sack of the day), then he escaped around the left side for a pickup of 14 to get inside scoring range for the first time all day.
Freshman Jonathan Brown set up first-and-goal with a seven-yard rush down to the eight yard line, but Blue couldn’t punch it in as a swing pass from Carr to Hiter on third-and-goal from the 6 was stuffed for no gain.
Stuart Blake made a 23-yard field goal to get Blue team on top with 1:16 left in the first half. It was a 15-play, 50-yard drive that took nearly nine minutes off the clock.
End of Q1: 0-0, Not much offense either way
Bryce Underwood layered in a pass to Eli Owens for a pickup of 16 for the first maize drive, but on third and long couldn’t complete a deep shot down the right sideline for Salesi Moa.
Blue took over on the 10 and Jordan Marshall picked up a few first downs, including a two-yard gain on fourth and two.. Moments later, Underwood was sacked which set up third-and-16, then he fired a pass into J.J. Buchanan in triple coverage who almost made a spectacular catch, but couldnt hold on.
On Maize’s next possession, the team went 3-and-out. Underwood couldn’t hit Marsh on a crossing route, then Lugard Edokpayi batted a ball at the line of scrimmage, before Underwood was flushed out of the pocket right and ran out of bounds for a loss of four.
Maize, blue teams have taken the field
Both squads are on the field and undergoing warmups. Maize working out in the south endzone, Blue in the north. Tony Alford (running backs) is the head coach of the blue roster, Lewis Powell (edges) is leading the maize.
Tommy Carr is the lone quarterback on the maize roster, though it is said Bryce Underwood will quarterback both sides in the opening quarter. Underwood is warming up with the blue team, as is Chase Herbstreit.
A side note, former defensive line coach Lou Esposito (now with the Baltimore Ravens) is on hand. His son, Louis Esposito, is an offensive lineman at Saline and a 2027 commit to the Wolverines.
Gates are opened, rain has moved on
It’s just after 1 p.m. and fans are beginning to file in. Players have not yet taken the field but as of 1:15 p.m. there’s one hour left on the countdown clock. The players will have some sort of activities from 2-2:15, with the game scheduled to begin at 2:15.
It’s 55 degrees (feels like 43) and overcast. There was a light drizzle the past half hour, but that’s moved on and the forecast does not indicate any rain coming the rest of the day. There is, however, a pretty stiff breeze − sitting at 15 mph with gusts up to 28.
What time does the Michigan spring game start?
What channel is the Michigan spring game on?
Is Bryce Underwood play in Michigan spring game?
Yes, that’s the plan.
According to Big Ten Network’s Jake Butt, the Wolverines are expected to play Underwood for the first quarter for both the Maize and Blue team.
Is the Michigan football spring game free?
Yes, as is parking, on a first come, first serve basis.
All gates will open at 11 a.m.
Michigan football spring game parking options
If you get there early enough, you should be able to park for free.
In a release about the spring game, Michigan said “any available parking in the lots around Michigan Stadium, owned and operated by the University of Michigan, will be free and open to the public starting at 7 AM (and is expected to fill quickly).” The University also reminded fans there is no parking at the U-M and AAGO golf courses like there is for game days.
Here are some other parking options Michigan shared:
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football spring game recap as Bryce Underwood struggles
Reporting by Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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