While the Michigan football vs. Western Michigan end-of-game clock scenario has dominated the 2026 college football season Week 1 headlines, with Week 2 on the horizon, quarterback Bryce Underwood’s play has been right behind.
After going 12-for-22 for 170 yards, a touchdown, an interception, nine carries for 47 yards, a rushing touchdown, and a fumble, it was a polarizing performance for the former five-star and No. 1 overall recruit in 2025. And everyone is weighing in.
Among them is ESPN College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit, whose son, Chase, is on the team. On ESPN Get Up, Herbstreit broke down Underwood’s struggles.
”I think the biggest thing I would do is I would try to take — again, like we just talked with Arch, I think when I think of
Utah football and I think of Kyle Whittingham, what comes to mind for you or for me? It's physicality, it's line of scrimmage, it's great defense, it's special teams, it's field position, it's a dominance up front,” Herbstreit said. “And then the quarterback play has always been kind of a complement to that. I feel like in that just one game out, I felt like it was like, OK, we've been asked questions about Bryce. This is our opportunity to show our fans and show America how good this quarterback is. And I feel like they're almost trying to maybe to appease him and make him a star as opposed to doing what Utah used to do, which was 12 and 13 personnel, two and three tight ends, and pound the rock. And then play action off of that boot and nakeds and things of that nature.
“And to me, I'm interested to see what kind of adjustments they make, because it wasn't all Bryce. This was more about the scheme and how they tried to attack after that opening touchdown that they scored. So, and now here comes Brent Venables, one of the best defensive minds that's had seven months to get ready to defend this quarterback and this system. It's gonna be a fun one to watch.”
.@KirkHerbstreit weighs in on QB Bryce Underwood ahead of Michigan vs. Oklahoma 👀 pic.twitter.com/18L3IKuSWr
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 11, 2026
Herbstreit’s comments aren’t dissimilar from what Matt Leinart and Brady Quinn told WolverinesWire on Friday afternoon on the Fox Big Noon Kickoff set. While Underwood has to play better and the coaches must do more to put him in a position to thrive, the offensive line must play better and the run game has to also get going.
We’ll see on Saturday if Michigan football can overcome the hurdles it faced in Week 1 when it hosts Oklahoma in Week 2.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Kirk Herbstreit weighs in on Bryce Underwood struggles
