Where Does Bryce Underwood Stand Amongst Big Ten Quaterbacks?

The evaluation of Michigan true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood against other Big Ten quarterbacks stands at the four-game mark. The Wolverines started their 2025 season well with a 3–1 record before the bye week. The Wolverines suffered their first loss during Week 2 at Oklahoma when their defensive line performance fell short. The first national game for Bryce Underwood ended in difficulties because he faced challenges like numerous first-time national starters do. The team has achieved stability after its difficult Week 2 loss at Oklahoma. Underwood has begun to demonstrate his expected leadership skills following the Wolverines’ defense’s improved performance. The Wolverines possess a promising long-term quarterback solution who continues to develop his skills throughout his first four games. Michigan fans will be watching the Big Ten Rankings closely to see where Bryce Underwood falls among conference quarterbacks.

PFF’s Bryce Underwood Big Ten Ranking

With the regular season one-quarter complete, it’s a good time to measure Underwood’s performance against his peers. Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades quarterbacks based on every throw and decision, not just raw stats. Here’s how the Big Ten shakes out:

1. Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers — 91.4

2. Demond Williams, Washington — 90.7

3. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana — 90.0

4. Drake Lindsey, Minnesota — 89.3

5. Dante Moore, Oregon — 89.3

6. Julian Sayin, Ohio State — 87.2

7. Jayden Maiava, USC — 86.9

8. Malik Washington, Maryland — 83.1

9. Ryan Browne, Purdue — 82.5

10. Mark Gronowski, Iowa — 80.3

11. Dylan Raiola, Nebraska — 77.1

12. Aidan Chiles, Michigan State — 71.1

13. Nico Iamaleava, UCLA — 69.9

14. Bryce Underwood, Michigan — 69.3

15. Luke Altmyer, Illinois — 68.9

16. Drew Allar, Penn State — 68.6

17. Danny O’Neil, Wisconsin — 54.0

18. Preston Stone, Northwestern — 46.2

While his current Big Ten ranking is lower than expected, his numbers don’t tell the whole story.

Evaluating Michigan Quarterback Bryce Underwood

Underwood has completed 733 passing yards while throwing two touchdowns and one interception throughout his first four games. The quarterback statistics show Underwood performs below the conference leaders, but the problems extend past his position on the field.

The main issue has been receiver drops throughout the season. The Michigan receivers have dropped 11 passes throughout four games, with Semaj Morgan and Channing Goodwin leading the Big Ten with four drops each. The number of dropped passes creates significant problems for a freshman quarterback who needs to establish consistent play.

Underwood occasionally demonstrates the qualities that made him one of the most sought-after recruits in his class. The quarterback can have excellent deep ball accuracy due to his powerful arm, while remaining calm under pressure in the pocket. The first-year quarterback has shown responsible play by limiting his interceptions to only one during his first four games.

Significant Ten Quarterback Rankings: Where Underwood Stands

The Big Ten quarterback rankings feature an elite group of talented players at their top positions. The Rutgers quarterback, Athan Kaliakmanis, and the Washington quarterback, Demond Williams, deliver experienced quarterback play. At the same time, Dante Moore from Oregon and Julian Sayin from Ohio State demonstrate their five-star recruit potential. The Wolverines should monitor these players, as they will likely compete with Underwood for multiple seasons to come.

Underwood operates within a balanced offense, which gives him the freedom to develop without needing to make all the plays for Michigan. The quarterback operates within a system that emphasizes a balanced offense rather than high-speed passing schemes. The bye week allows Michigan to focus on fundamental improvement and precision in the passing game before its matchup with Wisconsin.

What’s Next for Michigan

Sherrone Moore has stated that he will support Underwood by requiring his receivers to show better consistency. The team will use the bye week to refine its fundamentals and improve its passing game timing ahead of its matchup against Wisconsin.

The upcoming Wisconsin game will focus on whether the offense has achieved any progress. Underwood needs to convert his consistent performances into decisive plays that result in Big Ten victories against top opponents.