With spring football still weeks away and the 2026 college football season on the distant horizon, one name is already generating serious buzz: Bryce Underwood. The Michigan Wolverines’ young quarterback has caught the attention of longtime analyst Kirk Herbstreit, and for good reason.
Herbstreit recently joined Crain & Cone to talk shop on the evolving quarterback landscape, and he didn’t hold back when it came to Underwood’s upside. Despite the freshman signal-caller stepping into a program undergoing a shift in offensive leadership, Herbstreit believes that could actually be the catalyst for Underwood’s breakout.
“I think he’s going to have a massive jump, you would expect,” Herbstreit said. And he’s not just throwing out hype.
Herbstreit pointed out the unique challenges Underwood faced last season - from being an 18-year-old leading a Power Five offense to operating within a system that hadn’t quite found its rhythm. The Wolverines’ passing game lacked reliable weapons on the outside, and the offense often moved in fits and starts - two steps forward, one step back.
But that’s exactly why Herbstreit sees this offseason as a turning point.
“They’re going to have an offseason to study him,” he said. “To figure out where his sweet spot is, where he can really play well.” That kind of tailored development - built around Underwood’s strengths - could unlock a new level in his game.
And this isn’t just a media narrative. Herbstreit’s insight comes with a personal connection: his son, Chase, is part of the Michigan program. And according to Herbstreit, Chase has been thoroughly impressed by Underwood’s presence in the locker room - not just as a player, but as a leader.
“My own son cannot say enough good things about him,” Herbstreit said. “Which tells me a lot about the way the locker room feels about him and his work ethic and his approach to his job. Which, I love.”
That kind of endorsement speaks volumes. In a sport where talent is only part of the equation, Underwood is already showing the intangible qualities that coaches dream about - maturity, accountability, and a team-first mindset.
There’s still a long road ahead before Underwood takes the field as Michigan’s full-time starter, and plenty of questions remain about how the new offensive system will take shape. But if the early signs are any indication, the Wolverines may have a star in the making - one who’s just getting started.
The Big Ten better be paying attention.