When Bryce Underwood got to Michigan, he was inevitable -- the golden child destined to lead the Wolverines back to the promised land.
Underwood was rated the No. 1 overall player in the Class of 2025 out of Belleville, Michigan, fewer than 20 miles from Michigan's campus. He was a transcendent talent, rated a top 10 player before his sophomore season and leading his high school to a pair of state championships.
After a lengthy commitment to LSU, Underwood was famously offered a massive NIL contract to flip to his hometown program, funded in part by billionaire Larry Ellison. He was viewed as a game-changing addition, a return to form for Michigan one year after the Wolverines won the national championship. Too big to fail.
But after a stunning 13-12 performance against Western Michigan that required a controversial Hail Mary with one second remaining, Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham was hesitant to back his quarterback. By his telling, the starting quarterback spot could quickly open if things don't improve.
"There were comments about that?" Underwood said. "That's cool. That's cool. I didn't see that. It's cool."
There's a reason Underwood was taken aback by his starting job being in jeopardy: He's never faced real pressure before as a national figure. And now, heading into a monumental matchup against No. 11 Oklahoma, it's time for Underwood to deliver.
Inconsistent performance
Underwood had flashes during his first season in Ann Arbor, but his production was lackluster for a highly-rated player. The freshman completed barely 60% of his passes. In three games against ranked opponents, Underwood completed 47% of his passes for 4.8 yards per attempt. The Wolverines lost all three by double-digits.
A new offense brought in by Whittingham and first-year offensive coordinator Jason Beck was built to maximize his dual-threat ability. Instead, the Western Michigan game marked one of the worst games of Underwood's career.
On the first scripted drive of the game, Underwood was five-of-five for 61 yards before rushing for a touchdown. He added 47 yards on the controversial game-winning Hail Mary with one second remaining. In between those two plays, Underwood completed a paltry 6-of-16 passes for 62 yards.
Michigan had eight drives in the middle of the game. Six of them ended in punts, including four three-and-outs. The other two were an interception and a fumble, both at the hands of Underwood. According to Pro Football Focus, Underwood was 2-of-8 throwing outside of the numbers.
Behind Underwood, there isn't a player who has thrown passes in a Michigan jersey. Freshman Tommy Carr -- brother of Notre Dame's CJ and grandson of Lloyd Carr -- has received rave reviews in camp. While it's unusual for an expensive starter to get benched, Whittingham didn't bring Underwood to Ann Arbor. He wouldn't shy away.
Opportunity ahead
Underwood's second career start came against Oklahoma on the road in 2025. Against the Sooners, Underwood was held to just 9-of-24 passes for 142 yards as legendary defensive head coach Brent Venables worked his magic.
Oklahoma is coming off of a College Football Playoff appearance and positioned for another. In their season debut, the Sooners obliterated UTEP 51-0, allowing only 86 yards passing. They're one of the nation's best defenses, and Oklahoma is favored on the road by 6.5 points.
But in every challenge, there's an opportunity. This is a significant one for Underwood to rewrite his story.
Against Oklahoma, that might mean running the ball more. Despite prodigious running tools, Underwood did not rush more than 10 times in a game in the regular season last year. He hit nine against Western Michigan, averaging more than five yards per carry.
It also means limiting turnovers, which has been a struggle. Underwood threw a combined four interceptions against Ohio State and Texas in the final two games of the 2025 season and turned it over twice against Western Michigan. Fundamentally, Underwood has to find an urgency that he hasn't possessed since arriving in Ann Arbor.
Even if Underwood plays well, Michigan still has plenty of issues to fix. The defense struggled to get off the field against Western Michigan, and the offensive line got little push in the running game. If those dynamics don't get worked out, Oklahoma will roll. And frankly, that's what we expect.
Underwood is still the No. 1 overall recruit who received comparisons to Vince Young and Cam Newton in the recruiting process. If he can tap into his gifts, it gives the Wolverines a shot.
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