Michigan QB Bryce Underwood faces immense pressure to win

Five-star true freshman Bryce Underwood is officially Michigan's starting quarterback, the school announced on Monday. Underwood will face tremendous pressure to win in his debut campaign.

In the Wolverines' preseason camp, the 6-foot-4, 228-pound Underwood, a Detroit-area native, battled sophomore Jadyn Davis and graduate students Mikey Keene and Jake Garcia for the starting QB job. Underwood was the presumed favorite throughout preseason camp, although Michigan coaches have praised Garcia for his performances of late, too.

Why does Underwood face pressure to succeed in the 2025 season, which got underway this past weekend? For one, he is now the starting quarterback for one of college football's biggest brands. That always brings pressure along with it.

Secondly, Underwood will reportedly earn around $3 million this season, and that's inclusive of direct revenue-sharing and third-party NIL deals. That's a massive amount of money for a true freshman to make, so Underwood had better produce at a high level.

Thirdly, Underwood was the No. 1 national prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle. His career at Belleville High School in Belleville, Mich., was impressive. 

Underwood tallied a combined 11,488 passing yards and 152 total passing touchdowns over his four years at Belleville, while earning the MaxPreps National Freshman and National Sophomore of the Year Awards, and the Gatorade National Player of the Year honor as a junior.

Given all his accolades in high school, Underwood will want to replicate that kind of success at the collegiate level, but it won't be easy, even for someone as talented as Underwood.

Additionally, the Michigan program has been operating under a dark cloud due to the sign-stealing scandal, and the Wolverines want to get back into the College Football Playoff discussion after winning the national title two years ago but only going 8-5 in the 2024 campaign.

Last year, Michigan beat its fierce rival, Ohio State, and knocked off Alabama in a bowl game, but otherwise, it was an underwhelming 2024 season for first-year head coach Sherrone Moore.

In the preseason Associated Press and Coaches Top 25 Polls ahead of the 2025 campaign, the Wolverines are No. 14 overall. Michigan opens this season at home against New Mexico on Saturday, Aug. 30.

At it stands, the Wolverines' schedule only includes two ranked foes in the preseason AP Top 25: at No. 18 Oklahoma in Week 2 and versus No. 3 and defending national champion Ohio State at home in the regular-season finale on Nov. 29.

Underwood will likely contend for true freshman All-America honors this season. For him to win the starting job at Michigan speaks to his skills, and now it's time for him to deliver, beginning on Saturday night versus the Lobos.