On Thursday night Adam Schefter broke the news that would change the fortunes for the future of Michigan football. The most prized recruit in the 2025 class, and perhaps Michigan football history, is spurning the LSU Tigers for his home-state team. This is the most substantial news since Michigan won the national championship in January.
Here are some thoughts about the changing of the landscape for Michigan football recruiting.
1. Underwood has to start day one
Whatever the price tag is that Underwood is rumored to be getting means he must start on August 30th, 2025 against New Mexico. It doesn't matter if they still snag a transfer in the portal or not. Underwood jumps Jadyn Davis immediatley on the depth chart and unless Arch Manning or someone of that nature transfers to Michigan, then he starts. It's that simple.
Juju Lewis flipped from USC to Colorado. He will start day 1 in Boulder. 🦬
— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) November 22, 2024
Bryce Underwood flipped from LSU to Michigan. He will start day 1 in Ann Arbor. 〽️
Underwood would have started this year and there's no way that Michigan would be 5-5, just fighting for the postseason. I wouldn't get my hopes up on getting a Miller Moss type of quarterback to transfer in and expect him to be the backup. I would bet that the coaches look at someone more like a Jack Tuttle type to be Underwood's backup, if Davis transfers out.
A huge get for Michigan, as Bryce Underwood flips from LSU.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 21, 2024
There’s been a strong sense in the scouting community that Garrett Nussmeier will be returning for another season at LSU.
Underwood’s decommitment makes Nussmeier’s return that much more important. https://t.co/0mXZuVES2A
There was also a report by Field Yates on Thursday that Garrett Nussmeier may stay another year in Baton Rouge. That could have been the difference that made Underwood a starter at Michigan, instead of Nussmeier's backup.