Family dinners at the Herbstreit house just got a lot more interesting. Honestly, if you grew up watching college football in the Midwest, the name Herbstreit is basically synonymous with scarlet and grey. Kirk was the captain. The quarterback. The guy who lived and breathed Ohio State. So, when the news broke that Chase Herbstreit has committed to Michigan, it didn't just rattle a few cages—it blew the whole door off the hinges of the Big Ten rivalry.
It’s the kind of move that feels like a glitch in the matrix.
Chase isn't just some random recruit; he’s the youngest of Kirk’s four sons. He grew up as the biggest "Buckeye junkie" in the family, the one who actually cried when Ohio State lost. Yet, here we are in 2026, and he's officially a Wolverine. Life is weird.
The Reality of the "Traitor" Narrative
Social media did what it does best: it went nuclear. You’ve probably seen the comments calling him a traitor or suggesting Kirk has lost his mind. But if you look at the actual facts of how this recruitment went down, the story is much more about the changing landscape of college football than it is about some family vendetta.
Michigan offered a scholarship. Ohio State didn’t.
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Basically, that’s the heart of it. While Chase grew up dreaming of running out of the tunnel in Columbus, the Buckeyes were "close" to offering but never actually pulled the trigger. They were looking at other options, perhaps waiting for the transfer portal to shake out, or prioritizing higher-ranked targets. Michigan, under Sherrone Moore, saw something different. They saw a 6-foot-2, 190-pound kid from Cincinnati St. Xavier who threw for 1,600 yards and 18 touchdowns in his senior year and decided he was worth a scholarship spot.
When one school says "maybe later" and their biggest rival says "we want you now," the choice becomes pretty clear. Even for a Herbstreit.
Breaking Down the Michigan QB Room
Chase is entering a room that is, to put it lightly, crowded. Michigan didn't just sign him; they landed Bryce Underwood, the consensus No. 1 overall player in the country.
Underwood is the flashy, $10 million NIL-headliner.
Chase is the gritty, "chip on his shoulder" legacy recruit.
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He’s currently wearing No. 15 in Ann Arbor. He’s surrounded by a mix of veteran transfers like Mikey Keene and Jake Garcia, alongside other young guns like Tommy Carr and Brady Smigiel. It’s a shark tank. But anyone who watched Chase at St. X knows he’s used to pressure. He’s a pro-style guy who can actually move—he put up nearly 650 rushing yards as a senior. He isn't just a "name" on the roster; he’s a legitimate FBS-level talent who spent his high school career playing against the best competition in Ohio.
Kirk’s Take: Dad vs. Alum
Kirk Herbstreit has been remarkably open about this whole thing. He’s admitted that about 80% of fans have been supportive, while the other 20% have been, in his words, "jackasses."
Imagine being a father and watching your son get a full ride to one of the best universities in the world, only to have people tell you that you should be upset because of a jersey color. Kirk's stance is simple: he’s a dad first. He supports Chase 1,000%.
Interesting side note: Kirk mentioned that after the commitment, he didn't hear a peep from the Ohio State staff. No "congrats," no "good for him." Just silence. That probably tells you everything you need to know about the current state of the relationship between the program and its most famous alum's youngest son.
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What This Means for the Future
The recruitment of Chase Herbstreit is a perfect case study in the "new" college football. Between the scholarship caps, the transfer portal, and NIL, the old "legacy" rules don't apply anymore. Programs can't afford to give out "legacy scholarships" just to be nice. They have to be cutthroat.
Michigan saw an opportunity to get a high-floor, high-IQ quarterback who understands the magnitude of the rivalry better than anyone. They also got a nice little psychological win over their rivals in the process.
For Chase, the path isn't easy. He’s likely starting his career as a depth piece behind Underwood. But if history has taught us anything about the Herbstreit family, it’s that they don't mind the grind. Whether he’s holding a clipboard or eventually taking snaps under center, the fact remains: a Herbstreit is in Ann Arbor.
Actionable Insights for Following This Story:
- Watch the Spring Game: Keep an eye on Chase’s reps during the spring. With a crowded room, every snap is a data point for where he sits on the depth chart.
- Ignore the "Legacy" Noise: Evaluate him as a prospect, not a name. His ability to extend plays with his legs makes him a modern fit for Michigan's evolving offense.
- Monitor the Portal: Quarterback rooms are fluid. If veteran transfers leave, Chase’s path to the backup spot opens up significantly sooner than expected.