When Bryce Underwood committed to Michigan last year as the No. 1 overall recruit in the nation in the 2025 class, high expectations ensued. Underwood, who turned 18 in August, has started every game for
Michigan this season (10 so far) during his true freshman campaign.
Underwood has had great moments where his arm talent is on display, as well as his running abilities. There have also been moments where it’s clear he needs more growth working on his mechanics and reading defenses. However, Underwood has made more than enough ‘wow’ plays to have any fair football mind believing his future is bright.
Underwood’s game against Northwestern in a 24-22 last-second win is a good example of what happens when a team starts a true freshman at quarterback — there will be tremendous highs as well as notable lows. On the day, Underwood was 21-of-32 for 280 yards, with two interceptions, while rushing for 30 yards with a rushing score. Underwood’s two interceptions came in the fourth quarter, and he was also part of a handoff exchange with Bryson Kuzdal that resulted in a fumble and a turnover on downs as well. Before these turnovers (Michigan’s offense had five in all), Underwood played great, and he played great after the turnovers occurred as well.
With Michigan trailing 22-21, Underwood delivered key throws to move Michigan down the field and set kicker Dominic Zvada up for a game-winning kick with time expiring. Underwood hit Andrew Marsh for a 21-yard gain on 3rd-and-10 to put Michigan past midfield, and would go on to have a clutch 9-yard run on 3rd-and-5 to get Michigan in a more favorable field goal range.
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore summed up Underwood’s performance accurately. Underwood’s heroics should be talked about every bit as much (or more) than the mistakes he made.
“He saw the field really well against a really good defense that plays physical with some really good players on it. He just made some plays, and people talk about the picks, but you won’t talk about the third-down pass that he made that was incredible, and he took a big hit. And then the third and five, he scrambled to get the ball for a first down. There were some crucial, heroic plays that he made in that game that everybody would talk about the turnovers, but he played so good throughout that game.”
If Underwood doesn’t make those key plays in the final drive, Michigan’s hopes of a College Football Playoff berth would have ceased. Underwood was faced with a lot of pressure, and he dealt with it; he didn’t allow his previous interceptions to rattle him to a degree where he couldn’t function when his team needed him the most.
“You’ll talk about the turnovers, but I hope you will talk about that third-down throw to Andrew Marsh. Not just the first one that led to a touchdown, but that second one that led to the game-winning field goal. Or the third-down run that he had on third-and-five to escape to make sure we get a field goal,” Moore said. “There were some heroic plays that that young man made in the game that people need to highlight.”
The hope will be that Underwood learns from his mistakes and also remembers how to stay calm and get the job done when adversity hits and the chips are suddenly stacked against him. With Michigan facing No. 1 Ohio State in less than two weeks, these are valuable lessons that will need to carry over for the remainder of the season.
