Bryce Underwood’s day against Western Michigan ended with a comeback win for Michigan, but the performance did little to quiet the noise around the freshman quarterback.
Michigan escaped with an impossible finish after the game was effectively over, then got a second back on the clock and turned that last shot into the winning moment when Bryce Underwood delivered a strike to JJ Buchanan. The result went in the Wolverines’ favor, but the offense’s overall showing left plenty of questions hanging in the air.
That scrutiny has been building for months, and some of the loudest criticism came from former Utah star and NFL veteran Eric Weddle. After visiting Michigan with his son, Weddle said on the "Zero 2 Sixty" podcast:
"Don’t be surprised if the backup’s playing early because that Underwood kid, I don’t think he can throw or play quarterback,"
After a game like this, that quote is going to keep circulating.
Michigan entered the matchup as a 27.5-point favorite, and yet the offense went nowhere after the opening drive. Strip away the late miracle and the extra second on the clock, and there wasn’t much to celebrate.
Underwood’s job is simple in theory: run the offense efficiently. Against Western Michigan, he often looked worse than he did last season.
The issues showed up in nearly every part of his game. His footwork was messy.
He struggled to work through his reads. He didn’t seem to recognize what the defense was giving him.
He failed to use his legs when the situation called for it. And when the game tightened late, he didn’t protect the ball.
That last sequence was especially costly. Western Michigan forced a fumble on Bryce Underwood late in the fourth quarter, then took over with the ball at the 2 minute warning and a 2 point lead.
If Underwood can’t handle the basics, the question becomes whether Michigan should turn to Tommy Carr. It’s a fair one after this performance, even if Carr remains unproven. At minimum, it would represent a different look for an offense that stalled badly.
The concern for Michigan is that the offseason buzz around Underwood is starting to look harder and harder to trust. He was supposed to be the answer, but instead he’s sliding toward 5-star bust territory. Underwood finished with 170 passing yards, one interception, and that late fumble, and for a quarterback being paid so much in NIL money, that’s a brutal line to carry.
Michigan survived. Underwood did not help his case. And after nearly letting Western Michigan slip away, the pressure is only going to grow from here.
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Michigan Made Its Season Opener Count With Priority Recruits
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