Michigan’s 24-0 win over Oklahoma did more than flip the mood around the Wolverines. It also put Bryce Underwood right at the center of the conversation, with both Kyle Whittingham and Urban Meyer zeroing in on the quarterback’s role in the upset and what it might mean going forward.
Whittingham, speaking on Meyer’s Triple Option podcast with Mark Ingram and Rob Stone, said Michigan’s plan against the Sooners required Underwood to do something specific with his legs - and that the quarterback handled it exactly the way the staff wanted.
He described it as “a big ask and going to be a big part of the plan. And, to his credit, he was absolutely receptive to that.”
Whittingham added, “He had no pushback. He said, ‘Coach, whatever it takes to win this game.
What you need me to do is what I’m willing to do’. That was probably the biggest X-factor in the game is the rush yardage that he provided us.”
Meyer, who then broke down Underwood’s touchdown run, was just as enthusiastic about what he saw on film.
“I paused the film with Gerry DiNardo (a Big Ten Network Analyst and former collegiate player and coach), and I said, ‘How many men in the game can do this?’ and I answered it: ‘(One).’
That’s a big ass guy running. He outran an SEC secondary for a touchdown.
So, every investment that you put into this cat, it’s gotta be (worth it).”
Whittingham said Underwood’s buy-in goes beyond one game. He pointed to the quarterback’s habits in practice and his approach to the work itself.
“He is such a willing football player,” Whittingham responded, referring to Underwood. “Like I said, whatever we need him to do, he’s willing to do.
His work habits are terrific. He’s a leader at practice.
You know, we run our 2020s before practice to warm up, and he’s first in every single rep. I mean, he does things the right way, and you’re right.
He’s still very young in the big scheme of things. You know, he just turned 19 years old a month ago and I think the best days are ahead for Bryce, and he wants to be great.”
Not everyone is ready to declare the Wolverines fully solved, though. On Rich Eisen’s show, college football analyst Josh Pate said he still has lingering questions about Michigan even after the Oklahoma win.
“I don’t know if all of my questions have been answered about Michigan.”
Pate said his view of the Wolverines had already shifted after Week 1, when Michigan beat Western Michigan, and he said that feeling hadn’t changed before Saturday’s matchup with Oklahoma. But he was clear that the performance against the Sooners mattered.
“The vibe at Michigan (before the game vs. Oklahoma) was not that of a ton of confidence… So, when Michigan came out and just took the fight to them… Was it six OU drives that had to start inside their own 20?
Two of them started at the 1-yard line? (Michigan) dominated in special teams.
They forced Mateer into making a mistake that they could benefit from. They ran Underwood… So, huge amounts of credit, but I don’t think anyone leaves that game saying, ‘Welp.
All of my questions have been answered about Michigan.” But, they’re 2-0.
That’s what we know. Full season ahead, and that game we saw (against Oklahoma), that’s a foundation game.
I can build on that. I can stand on that.”
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