Bryce Underwood gave Michigan just enough to escape Western Michigan, but the sophomore quarterback left plenty on the field in the Wolverines’ controversial 13-12 win Saturday at Michigan Stadium.
The final line tells the story well enough: Underwood went 12-for-22 for 170 yards, threw one touchdown and one interception, and also lost a fumble. He added nine carries for 47 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
That was enough for an opening-drive score, and Underwood finished that first march with the game’s first touchdown. After that, though, the day got messy in a hurry.
Late in the first quarter, he nearly got picked on third-and-10 after rolling right and forcing a risky throw to Andrew Marsh along the sideline. On the next possession, he tried to squeeze a ball to JJ Buchanan on third-and-8, and the pass bounced off WMU safety Micah Davis’ chest.
Then, near the end of the half, Underwood stared down Jalen Hoffman on an out-route and was intercepted. Dillon Moore almost turned it into a pick-six before stepping out of bounds on the return.
By the time the final series arrived, Underwood had completed 10 of 16 passes for 95 yards. He was given more chances to use his legs and made a few throws on the move, but the overall performance never really took off.
There was one big moment of brilliance, and it came with the clock down to its final second. Otherwise, the rest of the game showed how much work still remains.
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Michigan May Have Found The Edge Threat Fans Have Been Waiting For
Michigan needed disruption somewhere in a tight 13-12 win over Western Michigan, and Dominic Nichols provided plenty of it. The Michigan defender piled up nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, then emerged as the highest-graded defender on the team according to Pro Football Focus, a strong sign that his impact went beyond the box score.
Kyle Whittingham also had positive remarks for Nichols afterward, adding another layer to what already looks like an encouraging afternoon for Michigan's front. For a defense still looking for a reliable edge threat, Nichols' showing stood out as the kind of performance that can change a rotation and maybe hint at a bigger role ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Win Sparks An Officiating Debate Fans Wont Ignore
The finish to Michigans 13-12 win over Western Michigan left plenty of room for debate, and not just because of the score. A controversial officiating sequence at the end of the game centered on a disputed second on the clock, and the result was the kind of ending that sends both fan bases straight to the replay. A source familiar with replay protocols pointed to multiple deviations from NCAA rules, along with a notable gap between the official game clock and the broadcast clock.
For Michigan, the win will count in the standings, but the discussion around it reaches beyond one afternoon in Kalamazoo. The episode has fed broader concerns about fairness and the uneven resources in college football, especially in a sport where the Big Ten and SEC have so much control over the College Football Playoff landscape. Even with the result in the books, the larger question lingers: how many games are decided by the players, and how many by the systems meant to oversee them? [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Made Its Season Opener Count With Priority Recruits
Michigans season opener at The Big House did more than give fans an early look at the Wolverines. It also doubled as a major recruiting weekend, with several key prospects in attendance and the program using the spotlight to show off its atmosphere, facilities and staff. Among the visitors were top linebacker targets Camden Noe and Jay Schell, along with Cyrus Zuah, Kinnard Mahomes, Wyatt VanBoening, Pierre Johnson and Marquis Ray.
For a staff trying to build momentum early, the game-day setting appeared to leave an impression. Some of the recruits came away with offers during the visit, and several described positive interactions with Michigans coaches as part of the experience. The Wolverines still have plenty of work to do on those fronts, but if the opener was any indication, they gave themselves a strong chance to stay in the conversation with a deep group of priority prospects. [Read more 🡒]