The Bryce Underwood era in Ann Arbor may have only just begun, but the expectations surrounding the 17-year-old five-star signal-caller are already deafening. Following a glimpse of the highly touted freshman in Michigan’s annual spring game, it’s clear the Wolverines aren’t easing him in—they’re ready to roll the dice with him at the heart of a new chapter. Michigan sits outside the sport’s elite in preseason projections, but if Underwood becomes what many believe he can be, the Wolverines won’t be waiting long to climb. In 247Sports’ updated win projections for SEC and Big Ten teams, there were six teams that were ahead. Michigan is forecast to win 8.5 games, with one of those tabbed as a win over archrival Ohio State. That’s not a bold swing anymore—it’s almost routine in Ann Arbor now.
Yet the preseason hype isn’t solely being pinned on Underwood’s shoulders. On The Hard Count, analyst J.D. PicKell ranked Michigan 20th in his post-spring Top 25—not exactly a soaring projection, but one that carries an intriguing context. “I think it’s Bryce Underwood,” PicKell said, alluding to the X-factor that the freshman brings to the quarterback room.
“But even if Bryce Underwood isn’t awesome, the defense they believe has more draft picks than what they’ve had previously—maybe not as many first-round draft picks but more draft picks in general.” It’s a subtle but telling point: Michigan’s defense, often the unsung backbone of their title-contending years, may once again be the silent killer.
PicKell didn’t stop there. He touched on the Wolverines’ offensive engine as well. “I love the backfield and Justice Haynes and what they have with Marshall,” he added. “Like they’re Old Faithful—still works for Michigan. So maybe they won’t start the year in a lot of top 10s and whatnot, but that formula with how they finished last year gave me a lot of confidence in the floor at Michigan—I think it’s pretty high now.” The message? The baseline is steady. Even with a freshman QB at the helm, there’s belief this team won’t drop too far, if at all.
There’s one man, though, who hasn’t taken his foot off the pedal when it comes to Michigan’s ceiling. Brad Crawford, in his 2025 projections, included a line that made fans sit up and rivals flinch. “And yes, that’s a win over Ohio State in the season finale,” Crawford declared. “Until the Buckeyes prove they can beat the Wolverines on the field, Michigan is the favorite in that game regardless of record.” A staggering turnaround from the Buckeye dominance of the past decade. That belief is also buoyed by flashes from Bryce Underwood himself, who delivered the spring game’s signature play. A deep strike down the sideline to tight end Jalen Hoffman, who raced in for an 80-plus-yard touchdown.
Bryce Underwood! pic.twitter.com/hc5Q4fAH2S
— aizeania (@MaizeManiaX) April 19, 2025
HC Sherrone Moore was measured in his postgame remarks, but he made it clear that Underwood is already earning respect in the building. “Made some really good throws and had some things that we got to clean up and get better at,” Moore said. “But he’s a continued work in progress, and he’s working his tail off to do it.” The throw to Hoffman wasn’t just a highlight—it was a message. Bryce Underwood can push the ball downfield with touch and confidence. That arm talent isn’t just hype—it’s visible, tangible, and Michigan fans got a taste of what the future could look like. The only storm cloud in the post-spring sunshine?
Moore is expected to serve a two-game suspension stemming from Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal—a distraction that refuses to fully fade, even with Harbaugh gone. That situation may cast a temporary shadow, but if anything, it further underscores the high-wire balancing act Michigan faces in 2025.
$12.5M for Bryce Underwood but no Top 10 NIL ranking? Michigan’s NIL mystery
UM just dropped $12.5 million on five-star QB Bryce Underwood in what’s arguably one of the flashiest NIL deals in recent memory. Naturally, that kind of move turned heads—and raised more than a few eyebrows. But here’s the kicker: despite the eye-popping spending, Michigan’s NIL collective didn’t even crack the top 10 richest list. Say what?
Programs like Ohio State, USC, and Texas—long known for their deep NIL war chests—are holding down those top spots. But Michigan? Nowhere to be found. That’s not sitting well with some folks. As Crain & Company’s David Cone bluntly put it, “Michigan spent what, 12 million on just one quarterback and they can’t crack into the top 10? That’s why I’m not buying any of this.”
And Bryce Underwood isn’t the only big-name signee. The Wolverines also reeled in five-star OT Andrew Babalola, who’s valued at $711K, along with other top-100 studs like Ty Haywood. So what’s really going on in Ann Arbor? Some believe Michigan is just playing it close to the chest, keeping financial moves behind the curtain. But in the modern NIL world, that old-school secrecy might not cut it anymore. If Michigan wants to lead this new era, it may need to open the playbook.
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