Another reason to believe Michigan QB Bryce Underwood is poised to break out

A breakout season is coming for Michigan football quarterback Bryce Underwood. You can almost sense it.

Many are doubting the former five-star quarterback, who was ranked as the top-ranked player and passer in the 2025 class. Underwood won nine games as a true freshman starter, while accounting for 16 total touchdowns and 218 yards per game. He also completed over 60 percent of his passes.

Underwood was solid at taking care of the football. He did have some tough games at the end of the year, but he only had a few games with multiple turnovers.

The Michigan football starting quarterback will be better this season, for a few reasons. The obvious one is that he will have more experience as a sophomore. The game should start to slow down. He will be able to process the field better, in addition to being bigger and stronger, etc.

The physical development of Underwood hasn't been the issue. The throwing motion could be cleaned up, however, the mental development is the most important part.

You could tell in the Ohio State game last season that Underwood wasn't seeing the field very well, as a runner or a passer. Andrew Marsh was wide open on one play and Bryce never saw him. He also made a poor read on a run near the goal line that should have gone for a touchdown.

Kyle Whittingham has made a positive impact on Bryce Underwood

With Kyle Whittingham, Jason Beck, and Koy Detmer Jr. working with Bryce, he is going to improve. Whittingham told Rich Eisen this week that Underwood is getting "closer."

Quarterback development isn't a linear process. There are ups and downs. Sometimes, you take a step forward, only to take two steps back. Yet, Michigan fans should be encouraged. Not only has Underwood put in the work this offseason, like working on being a better runner, but you can clearly see the impact of the new staff on Underwood as far as his maturity.

Compared to last season, it's night and day.

Underwood also did an interview with Eisen this week. Some clips were posted on Monday. The five-star quarterback was asked what his goals are for this season.

"[National Championship], Heisman, being the best leader for my team," Underwood said.

Some fans, especially rivals, might scoff at Underwood talking about the national title or the Heisman Trophy; However, fans should want players to aim high. Underwood's goal should be to be the best player on the best team in college football.

If that's not the goal, what's the point?

The most important part of the answer, though, was the end, when Underwood talked about being a leader. That's not something Bryce would have said last offseason.

Before his freshman season, Underwod talked the talk, but didn't walk the walk. He wasn't nearly as bad as people have made him out to be, he just didn't meet the lofty expectations he, and others, set for him as a 17/18-year old kid.

"Being the best leader" for his team is a tangible decision. It demonstrates the influence of Whittingham. Yes, it's one sentence, but it shows a completely different mindset and a level of maturity that Underwood didn't have before.

The former five-star quarterback has matured. His game has surely matured, too. How much will determine how close he and the Wolverines will come to reaching the other goals he laid out for the 2026 season.

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