Dave Portnoy explains how $232BN worth tycoon got on board to flip Bryce Underwood from LSU to Michigan: "Nobody can match this"

Several people have been credited with influencing Bryce Underwood to abandon his commitment to LSU in favor of Michigan. Tom Brady has been said to have made the decisive call that flipped the No. 1 prospect in the 2025 class to the Wolverines. However, Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports has claimed another heavyweight's involvement convinced Underwood to choose Michigan.

Portnoy, appearing on the "Barstool College Football Show" Week 14, said Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who has a net worth of $232 billion per Forbes, and his wife were involved in Underwood’s recruitment. The billionaire’s wife, Jolin Ellison, an alumnus of Michigan and a big fan of the Wolverines, weighed in heavily to see Underwood headed to Ann Arbor.

“I got a call from the Michigan football team," Portnoy said (Timestamp: 2:15). "They said, ‘Hey, there’s this donor who wants to talk to you. I said that I’m doing this (landing Underwood) by myself, and I don’t need to talk to anybody.

"And they said, ‘Please, this woman is a big fan of Barstool and you; she’d love to talk to you. Her name is Jolin. … They said her husband is a guy by the name of Larry Ellison. You ever heard of him?”

Discussions between Portnoy and the couple followed where it was established that Underwood must be acquired if the Wolverines were to return to the top. Next, Portnoy pitched the partnership to Underwood.

“We pitched Bryce," Portnoy said (Timestamp: 4:21). "I said ‘Listen, first of all, Barstool and the marketing. But more importantly, Larry Ellison and Jolin, nobody can match this.’”

How Bryce Underwood made his decision

Bryce Underwood and his parents continued to consider the pitch by Dave Portnoy and the Ellisons on behalf of Michigan. Meanwhile, he remained an LSU commit and paid an official visit to Baton Rouge. On3’s Pete Nakos reported that the Underwoods had their lawyers review the NIL figures in Michigan's proposal, a figure reportedly in excess of $10 million. It was a far cry from LSU’s $1.5 million.

Following the visit to Baton Rouge, the Underwoods reportedly visited Michigan on Tuesday and Wednesday last week. Bryce Underwood’s commitment to his home state school was announced on Thursday.

On the following day, he announced a partnership with Michigan's NIL collective Champions Circle and Valiant Management. The partnership is to release signed trading cards and jerseys that are available for preorder, kicking off the five-star quarterback’s NIL journey at Michigan.