What's wrong with Bryce Underwood at Michigan and how to fix it: 'This is Day 1 quarterback stuff'

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What's wrong with Bryce Underwood at Michigan and how to fix it: 'This is Day 1 quarterback stuff' originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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It's a rare occurrence when a five-star quarterback throws a game-winning Hail Mary and immediately faces questions about whether they should be the starter in the same week.

This is the complicated reality for Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood heading into Saturday's showdown against No. 11 Oklahoma at Michigan Stadium.

Underwood completed a controversial 47-yard Hail Mary to JJ Buchanan after one second was put on the clock in a 13-12 victory against Western Michigan on Monday, which salvaged a rough opener where the sophomore finished 12 of 22 for 170 yards with an interception. On Monday, Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham added to the uncertainty for Underwood, a sophomore with a NIL deal reportedly worth close to $12 million.

"He's our quarterback right now," Whittingham said at a press conference Monday. "It's not something that's infinite."

Underwood was asked whether he had a response to Whittingham's comments and his hold on the starting job at Michigan. 

"There was comments about that?" Underwood asked. "That's cool. I didn't see that. That's cool."

What is going on here? The quarterback situation at Michigan is clearly not cool. Underwood hasn't helped dispel the multi-million dollar bust talk on or off the field – and that's led to some rumblings around the future with the Wolverines heading into an inflection point against the Sooners. 

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What is wrong with Bryce Underwood? 

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt broke down Underwood's struggles on the "Joel Klatt Show" on Wednesday. Klatt was not impressed with the opening touchdown drive – where Underwood hit 5 of 5 passes for 61 yards. Underwood did complete the 47-yard Hail Mary to Buchanan, but he was 6 of 16 for 62 yards the rest of the game against Western Michigan. 

"Did it get worse?" Klatt asked. "Yeah, it got worse. You watch the rest of the game, and I'm just telling you right now, Bryce Underwood regressed from Year 1 to Year 2. He's throwing curl routes into sitting safeties. He's throwing spot routes and leading those players into Cover 2 corners. This is Day 1 quarterback stuff. These are things that you can't do as a quarterback." 

Underwood's interception with nine seconds left in the first half is an example of one of those missed reads. 

WESTERN MICHIGAN INTERCEPTS BRYCE UNDERWOOD 👀

After review, Dillon Moore stepped out of bounds on the way to the end zone.

📺: NBC pic.twitter.com/Q76m0c2Qfo

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 6, 2026

Underwood's footwork – especially on short passes – has been scrutinized. 

From a statistical standpoint, a few alarming trends emerge, according to Pro Football Focus. Since taking over the starting job as a freshman in 2025, Underwood is 61 of 144 (42.7%) with eight TDs and eight interceptions on passes of 10 yards or more. 

To put that into perspective, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is 94 of 143 (65.7%) with 29 TDs and three interceptions in the same range in the same stretch. It's not a fair comparison given the talent gap at receiver between the two schools, but these rival Big Ten schools are always subject to comparisons.

Underwood also needs to improve with a clean pocket. He was 11 of 18 for 123 yards and an interception in that situation against the Broncos. Underwood had a 65.3% completion percentage with nine TDs and six interceptions with a clean pocket last season.

These same issues were apparent last season, but new Michigan offensive coordinator Jason Beck was seen as a potential game-changer for Underwood. It's one game – but it did not look like much of a difference.

"My performance wasn't the best," Underwood said. "I've got a lot to work on coming out this week."

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Is Bryce Underwood the right QB for Michigan? 

Michigan is among the most-quarterback jobs in the FBS. Remember, Tom Brady  – who won seven Super Bowls in the NFL – split time as the starter for the Wolverines with Drew Henson. 

Underwood's answers were short at his press conference Wednesday, and his body language on and off the field has been panned. Devin Gardner – a Fox Sports analyst who played quarterback at Michigan from 2010-14 – questioned Underwood's reaction after an incomplete pass that led to an injury to Michigan tight end Jalen Hoffman on "The Blue Print" podcast. Underwood appeared to be smiling afterward. 

When asked about that, Underwood had another curious response. 

"I'm always smiling when I'm playing football no matter win, lose or draw," Underwood said. "So, that's what it is. I'm playing the game with a passion, so you're always going to see a smile on his face." 

That, on top of Underwood's comments to NBC Sports' John Fanta that Ohio State is "just another game" are also complications. That has led to rumblings that backup quarterback Tommy Carr – a freshman who is the son of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr and the brother of Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr – should get a look.

That is risky. Michigan's issues are not entirely on Underwood. Running backs Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter combined for 16 carries for 59 yards in the opener. The offensive line struggled. Buchanan was a bright spot in the receiving game – but he was the only player with more than two catches.

Underwood also has drawn comparisons to Joe Milton – a four-star quarterback who played at Michigan from 2018-20. 

Milton had an outstanding debut with the Wolverines as a junior in 2020 before fading and being replaced by Cade McNamara. Milton transferred to Tennessee and was drafted in the sixth round by New England in 2024. He is now a backup quarterback for Dallas. 

Will Underwood follow a similar path if it does not work out at Michigan? 

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Bryce Underwood in focus against Oklahoma 

A total of 13 of the 22 five-star quarterbacks in 247Sports.com recruiting rankings from 2020-25 transferred at least once. Underwood – who flipped from LSU – was a five-star quarterback in the same class as Alabama's Keelon Russell – who showed promise in his first start. Ohio State's Tavien St. Clair is Sayin's backup, and Husan Longstreet transferred from USC to LSU. 

Who else stayed? Alabama's Bryce Young (2020), Ohio State's C.J. Stroud (2020), North Carolina's Drake Maye (2021), Penn State's Drew Allar (2022), Clemson's Cade Klubnik (2022), Alabama's Ty Simpson (2022) and Texas' Arch Manning (2023). All of those QBs were NFL Draft picks, and Young, Stroud, Maye and Simpson were taken in the first round. 

Underwood can change the narrative against the Sooners on Saturday. Remember, Manning was labeled a bust last season before leading Texas to a 23-6 against Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry on Oct. 11, 2025. 

Underwood was 9 of 24 for 142 yards in a 24-13 loss to Oklahoma on Sept. 6, 2025 – but the prevailing notion afterward was that Underwood would learn from the first first road start. That's the problem. The lack of development is glaring at the start of Year 2. 

This isn't the defining moment of Underwood's career – it's too early to put a label like that on a sophomore quarterback – but it is a pivot point before hitting a Big Ten schedule that features five ranked teams in No. 21 Iowa, No. 16 Penn State, No. 5 Indiana, No. 6 Oregon and No. 1 Ohio State. 

"I believe in myself and am confident in myself no matter what it is," Underwood said.

That confidence will be tested Saturday. 

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Bryce Underwood and five-star QBs since 2020

A look at every five-star quarterback according to 247Sports.com from 2020-26. 

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