Honestly, if you looked at the Michigan sideline during the final minutes of the 2025 Citrus Bowl, you wouldn't have blamed Bryce Underwood for wanting to pack his bags. The Wolverines were stumbling through a 41-27 loss to Texas, and Arch Manning was busy lighting up the scoreboard on the other side.
Sherrone Moore was gone. The coaching staff was in total flux. For a kid who was the No. 1 recruit in the country and had a reported $12 million NIL bag waiting for him, the transfer portal looked like a very cozy exit ramp.
But then January 5, 2026, happened.
Bryce Underwood basically shut down the rumors with a single social media post. He’s staying in Ann Arbor. Under new head coach Kyle Whittingham, the Belleville native is doubling down on the Maize and Blue for his sophomore year. It’s a move that saves the program's immediate future, but let’s be real—the 2025 season wasn’t exactly a fairy tale.
The Reality of a True Freshman Season
People expected Underwood to come in and be C.J. Stroud or Caleb Williams immediately. That didn't happen.
He threw for 2,428 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. He was "only" 18 years old for the entire season. Think about that. Most kids his age were still worried about their freshman English lit finals, and he was trying to read a Jim Knowles defense in front of 110,000 people.
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He had some absolute "how did he do that?" moments, like the 270-yard masterclass against Wisconsin. But he also had the Ohio State game. 8-of-18 passing. Barely any movement through the air. It was ugly. Fans were frustrated, and Dave Portnoy was out here on podcasts saying he wouldn't put another dime into the NIL pot if Underwood wanted to renegotiate.
The stat line tells part of the story, but the legs tell the rest. Underwood ran for 392 yards and 6 scores. His 7.8 yards per designed run was actually one of the best marks in college football. He's 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, and he runs like a gazelle.
Why the Kyle Whittingham Hire Changed Everything
When Michigan hired Whittingham away from Utah in late December, it was a massive signal to Underwood. Whittingham isn't a "rah-rah" guy; he's a developer.
He spent 45 minutes with Underwood right after taking the job. He didn't just talk football. He asked about his family. He asked about what was important to him. Whittingham basically said Underwood has the "IT factor," but he also admitted the kid is raw.
That honesty probably kept Bryce from heading to LSU. Remember, he was committed to Brian Kelly for months before Michigan flipped him at the eleventh hour. The threat of him going back to the SEC was very real during that two-week coaching search.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the $12 Million
There’s this idea that Underwood is just a "mercenary" because of the NIL deal. If you talk to people around Belleville High School, they'll tell you that’s garbage.
Yes, the Champions Circle collective and boosters like Larry Ellison’s wife, Jolene Zoo, put together a package that changed the game. But Underwood grew up a Michigan fan. He chose the hard path. He chose to stay home when he could have been in Baton Rouge throwing to five-star receivers in a pass-happy system.
The deal isn't just a lump sum of cash, anyway. It’s structured with business mentorship and long-term brand building with companies like Beats by Dre and Celsius. It’s a job. And last year, that job was tough because the offensive line was constantly reshuffling due to injuries.
Bryce Underwood 2025 Season Stats
- Passing Yards: 2,428
- Touchdowns/Interceptions: 11 / 9
- Rushing Yards: 392
- Rushing TDs: 6
- Best Game: vs. Wisconsin (270 yards, 1 TD)
- Worst Game: vs. Ohio State (8/18 passing)
The 2026 Outlook
What does a successful sophomore year look like for the Bryce Underwood Michigan football era?
For starters, Jason Beck needs to let him rip it. In 2025, it felt like the leash was too short. He only threw 17 passes against Michigan State and 18 against Ohio State. You don't pay a guy $10 million+ to be a game manager. You pay him to be a weapon.
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With Andrew Marsh emerging as a legitimate WR1 (he had 12 catches at Wrigley Field against Northwestern, for crying out loud), the tools are there.
Underwood is currently projected as a top-tier NFL prospect for the 2028 draft. He has two more years to prove he isn't just an athlete playing quarterback. He needs to improve his pocket presence—he bailed too early against Purdue and MSU—and he needs to refine those mechanics that the TV commentators kept nitpicking during the Texas game.
He’s the face of the program. For better or worse, Michigan’s success over the next 24 months rests entirely on how much "seasoning" Whittingham can give him.
Actionable Insights for Michigan Fans
- Watch the Spring Game: Look for Underwood's footwork. If he’s staying in the pocket longer instead of tucking and running at the first sign of pressure, Whittingham’s coaching is already working.
- Keep an eye on the Portal: Michigan still needs a veteran backup. Relying on Jadyn Davis as the only other option is risky if Underwood takes a big hit.
- Lower the 2026 Heisman Hype: He’s talented, but he needs a 2:1 TD-to-INT ratio before he's in that conversation. Let the kid grow without the "Heisman or bust" labels.
The drama of the "will he or won't he" transfer saga is over. Now, it’s just about football. Bryce Underwood is staying home, and for the first time in a while, Michigan fans have a reason to be genuinely optimistic about the most important position on the field.