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Michigan freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood had a good debut in Week 1 over New Mexico, recording 251 passing yards for one touchdown. However, things will get harder on Saturday when the Wolverines face Oklahoma and its strong defense under coach Brent Venables.
Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy is all in on Underwood. On Saturday’s episode of “Big Noon Kickoff,” he said:
“I would on a scale of 10, I’m like an eight (that Michigan is going to win),” Portnoy said. “I think Bryce Underwood, I’ve sat with Urban (Meyer)B, I’ve sat with all the quarterbacks, they’re drooling about this guy Bryce Underwood. They can’t believe what they see on tape. He’s like a supernova.
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"Now, I hope they use his legs. He didn’t run at all last week. I think they’re saving it for this week. I think he may be the single best freshman ever in college football. So I like Michigan.”
Underwood attended Belleville High School in Michigan, where he started at quarterback for all four years and led the Tigers to a 50-4 record. He led the team on a 38-game winning streak from his freshman year through the state championship game in his junior year.
Over his high school career, Underwood totaled 12,919 all-purpose yards, including 11,488 passing yards, and accounted for 179 total touchdowns, 152 of them through the air. As a senior in 2024, he threw for 2,509 yards and 32 touchdowns with six interceptions, completing 71.8% of his passes. He also rushed for over 600 yards and scored six touchdowns on the ground.
CFB analyst on Bryce Underwood’s real challenge coming in Week 2
ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit says Bryce Underwood’s real test will come against Oklahoma, especially in front of Brent Venables’ defense, which is much tougher than what Underwood saw in Week 1. On Saturday’s episode of “SportsCenter,” Herbstreit said:
“We know how great and talented he is, but we’ve seen a lot of true freshman quarterbacks, guys who eventually became first-round picks, struggle the first time they go on the road. It’s just different.
“... If you watched Michigan’s first game, I don’t think Bryce Underwood could have looked any more in command or poised. It wasn’t just the quick release and strong arm, it was his command of Chip Lindsey’s offense. He really seemed to have it. But when you go on the road, the whole operation is different.”
Herbstreit also talked about Oklahoma’s quarterback John Mateer, who has been working with new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, and how they have a good connection. The analyst believes the outcome of the game will depend heavily on how each quarterback performs during the game.
