Playing with the University of Michigan "M" on your jersey means big things for any player of any sport in Ann Arbor. While National Championships are always wanted and sometimes expected, the pressure to win them is not something that should be forced on the players.
For one former Ohio State linebacker, he seems to think that it is. Steele Chambers, who once played for Michigan's most fierce rival, Ohio State, joined the Bobby Carpenter show and ended up putting a mountain of pressure on Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood, and it honestly was totally uncalled for.
"If you're not winning a national championship this year, then you're failing," Chambers said.
.@steeleC22 on the pressure that's on Bryce Underwood as a $5M QB:
— Bobby Carpenter Show (@BobbyCarpShow) June 11, 2026
"If you're not winning a national championship this year, then you're failing."
That's the standard at programs like Ohio State and Michigan.
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It is yet another talking head that is talking about Underwood's game, or as they believe, lack thereof, and at this point, it has to be getting frustrating.
Bryce Underwood continues to have pressure placed on his shoulders after just one season at Michigan
Does Underwood have a lot of pressure on his shoulders? Absolutely, he is the starting quarterback at a major Power 4 conference school. Fans always expected National Championships at every school; it doesn't matter who they root for, but there are also realistic expectations, and Michigan fans have been able to temper those expectations.
Michigan wasn't going to win a National Championship in Underwood's first season; he was too raw a quarterback to be able to lead the Wolverines. In all honesty, a National Championship may still be just out of reach for the Wolverines this season, but there is more hope with a new coaching staff and one key thing everyone is forgetting about with Underwood's game.
Underwood is going into the 2026 season with a lot more experience than he did in 2025. Even one year of college football experience can make things vastly different for a player. Plus, with a new coaching staff, Underwood is able to shape his game differently, which will be different than his first season.
Chambers is not the first person to come out and rag on Underwood's game or playing ability. Even Chambers thinks Underwood could be replaced next season by a backup, but what Michigan fan is really going to listen to a former Ohio State player?
Underwood has pressure to perform this season, but to say he is a failure if he doesn't win the title for Michigan this season is completely off. It takes time for players to develop. Last we checked, Julian Sayin didn't win a National Championship in his first season as a starter; actually, he didn't even win his first playoff game.
Fans expect a lot out of Underwood. Instead of worrying about pressure from the outside, the young gunslinger needs to just focus on his game and work on improving from last season.
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