If Michigan is going to punch its ticket to the College Football Playoff next season, the path runs straight through the development of one player: Bryce Underwood. The Wolverines have plenty of moving parts to get in sync-new faces on the sidelines, a reshaped roster, and a schedule that won’t do them any favors-but the biggest swing factor is the growth of their young quarterback.
Let’s be clear: Michigan needs Underwood to take that next step. Not just a little improvement here and there, but a real, noticeable leap.
The kind that turns a solid freshman campaign into a breakout sophomore season. The kind that elevates a good team into a playoff contender.
Underwood’s Year One: More Than Meets the Eye
Underwood’s freshman season had its share of highs and lows, as you’d expect from a true freshman thrown into the fire. He finished the year with 17 total touchdowns and averaged 216 passing yards per game across 13 starts. Those numbers might not jump off the page, but they don’t tell the whole story.
For one, Michigan’s offensive philosophy last season didn’t exactly inflate quarterback stats-especially in the red zone. The Wolverines leaned heavily on a power run game near the goal line, often opting to bulldoze their way into the end zone rather than dial up play-action or trust the passing game in tight quarters. That approach meant fewer touchdown passes for Underwood, but it wasn’t necessarily a reflection of his ability.
And let’s not overlook this: Underwood didn’t have a dedicated quarterbacks coach last season. That’s a big deal for any young signal-caller trying to adjust to the speed and complexity of the college game. This year, that changes.
A New Staff, A New Opportunity
Enter Koy Detmer Jr., who takes over as quarterbacks coach, and Jason Beck, the new offensive coordinator. Beck recently joined the “In The Trenches” podcast and offered some insight into what he sees in Underwood-and why he's optimistic about what’s to come.
“When I watched the film, man, he’s a big, athletic, impressive player. He has a big arm, and has a nice presence about him,” Beck said.
“To play at this level as a freshman - a true freshman - is really hard. That is really challenging for anybody.”
Beck’s point is one coaches across the country echo: the jump from year one to year two is where quarterbacks often make their biggest strides. The game starts to slow down.
Reads come quicker. Confidence builds.
And when that first year came with the kind of trial-by-fire experience Underwood got, the payoff in year two can be massive.
The Road Ahead
Michigan’s 2026 schedule isn’t doing them any favors. It’s a gauntlet, plain and simple.
But despite the challenges, there’s a growing belief that the Wolverines could be right back in the College Football Playoff conversation. That belief hinges on one thing: Bryce Underwood evolving into the kind of quarterback who can carry a program.
With a full offseason under his belt, a new coaching staff tailored to his development, and the raw tools that made him such a coveted recruit in the first place, the pieces are there. Now it’s about putting it all together.
If Underwood makes the leap-and there’s good reason to think he will-Michigan’s ceiling rises with him.