Josh Pate Believes Former No. 1 QB Is A Year Away From National Championship

Josh Pate can apparently see the future, and the On3 college football analyst believes Bryce Underwood will define a new era for the Michigan Wolverines.

Pate joined his colleagues, Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman, on the “Andy & Ari” podcast on Tuesday and made a bold proclamation about the Wolverines’ trajectory under their true freshman quarterback.

Pate said Underwood will make an immediate impact in 2025, but the roster around him is not yet championship caliber, as that level of play won't be achieved until next season.

Pate emphasized that Underwood would put on a performance this year that would make fans say, "Dude, if he only had wide receivers."

That type of season, when partnered with Michigan’s commitment to spending aggressively in the transfer portal, suggests the program is positioning itself for a major leap in 2026. Michigan fans could be watching a tough transition season under head coach Sherrone Moore, even as Underwood flashes elite potential.

Josh Pate Believes Bryce Underwood Will Impress as a True Freshman

Underwood, the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, enrolled early to take command of the Michigan offense this year.

Pate expects inconsistency during Underwood’s true freshman campaign, but believes his physical tools and confidence will shine through immediately. He envisions a scenario where Underwood carries Michigan to a "really feisty" nine wins despite major deficiencies at wide receiver.

"If (Underwood) shows the ability, like, if they're nine wins this year, but it's a really, really feisty nine-win team, I think they look and say, 'We can be a national championship team a year from now,'" Pate said.

Pate argued Michigan’s passing options lack explosion and playmaking juice, but sees that changing if Underwood performs to lofty expectations. The Wolverines have returning juniors Fredrick Moore and Semaj Morgan at receiver this season, along with transfer senior wideout Donovan McCulley, who joined the team from Indiana.