No, Bryce Underwood Isn’t Leaving Michigan - Here’s What Really Happened
Michigan fans got a jolt over the weekend when an Instagram post made it sound like Bryce Underwood was planning to pack his bags right after the Citrus Bowl. But let’s clear the air: there’s no indication the Wolverines’ freshman quarterback is heading for the portal. The post twisted his actual words, and the internet - especially college football Twitter - wasn’t having it.
Here’s the deal. Underwood spoke to the media ahead of Michigan’s New Year’s Eve matchup with Texas in the Citrus Bowl.
Naturally, he was asked about the program’s recent coaching change - longtime Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham was just brought in following the dismissal of Sherrone Moore. Underwood responded like most players do in bowl week media sessions: he said he’s focused on the game and will talk things over with his family after Dec.
That’s it. No cryptic transfer hints.
No dramatic exit plans. Just a standard answer from a young quarterback navigating a coaching change and an upcoming bowl game.
But that didn’t stop one Instagram account from spinning his words into something they weren’t. The caption suggested Underwood was on the verge of leaving Ann Arbor - a claim that had no basis in what he actually said. Fans were quick to call out the post for what it was: pure clickbait.
One fan nailed it: “I saw the whole interview and he never mentioned leaving or talking to his family about leaving once.” Another kept it short and sweet: “He’s staying.” Others mocked the post’s lack of credibility with comments like “source: trust me bro.”
Some fans pointed to the financial side of things - and they’re not wrong to bring it up. NIL money matters in today’s college football landscape, and Michigan’s not exactly short on resources.
One fan put it bluntly: “He’s not going anywhere. He’s a money chaser and ain’t nobody gonna pay him more cash after the mediocre season he just had.”
Another echoed that sentiment: “No other program is paying that much.”
And while that might sound harsh, it reflects the reality of the current college football climate. Players are weighing opportunities, sure - but they’re also making business decisions. And right now, there’s no reason to believe Underwood sees a better opportunity elsewhere.
One commenter broke it down with some behind-the-scenes perspective: “He was told by coaches ‘these dudes will talk about nothing but the portal, say you are focused on the bowl game and you will discuss with your family’ - like what’s he supposed to say?”
Exactly. This is how players are coached to handle media in December. Portal season is chaotic, and coaches want their guys locked in on the next game - not stirring up headlines.
As for Underwood’s season, he showed flashes of the talent that made him a five-star recruit. He completed 61.1% of his passes for 2,229 yards, tossing nine touchdowns and six interceptions.
On the ground, he added 323 rushing yards and five scores. Not a perfect season, but a strong foundation - and the kind of dual-threat profile that makes him a key piece of Michigan’s future.
According to the Detroit Free Press, a source familiar with Underwood’s thinking said after Moore’s firing that “it’s not like he’s looking to leave Michigan.” That lines up with everything we’ve seen and heard from the quarterback himself.
So let’s put the rumors to rest. Underwood’s focused on the Citrus Bowl, where Michigan takes on Texas at 3 p.m.
ET on New Year’s Eve. After that, he’ll talk things over with his family - like just about every player in his position would.
But unless something drastically changes, the Wolverines’ QB1 isn’t going anywhere.