Michigan Football Recruiting: Evaluating Michigan's Chances With Bryce Underwood

With early signing day just around the corner on December 4th, Michigan football is continuing its pursuit of the #1 player in the country, quarterback Bryce Underwood. Underwood, a Michigan native, has been committed to LSU since January. Yet with Michigan's offensive struggles in 2024, the Wolverines are trying everything they can to change Underwood's mind.

Michigan has reportedly offered an NIL deal of over $10 million dollars to Underwood. Yes, that's a lot. But for a program changing caliber quarterback, that might be the new norm. It's unclear how that matches up with LSU's NIL offer, but one thing is certain: Michigan is going all in on Underwood.

So what do Michigan's chances look like?

Well, it's simple. The Wolverines likely need to find a way to get Underwood on campus before the early signing day. That would, in all likelihood, mean that they need to convince Underwood to visit for the Northwestern game, as it is the Wolverines last home game. Will that happen? Who knows, but you can get that Michigan is doing everything it can to make it happen.

If Underwood doesn't visit Ann Arbor, I'd say Michigan's chances are about zero. Even with a massive NIL offer on the table, Underwood is very likely getting a similarly large offer from LSU - this recruitment is about more than money. Michigan needs to get him on campus and around the other recruits. For the Northwestern game, top Michigan offensive commits Andrew Olesh, Andrew Marsh, and Donovan Johnson will be visiting. Those are the exact guys you'd want on campus if Underwood were to visit.

It's a very interesting recruitment. From the outside looking in, it appears that Bryce loves everything about LSU and is more interested in the Tigers than the Wolverines. Yet with LSU's struggles, the door may be opening just a little bit for Michigan football. The fact that Underwood hasn't officially turned down the Wolverines tells me that there's a chance - no matter how slim it may be.

I still think that LSU is the favorite here, but this weekend may determine who wins this recruitment. If Underwood visits Michigan, the Wolverines outlook becomes a whole lot better. If not, Michigan's dreams of flipping Underwood are just about dead. Keep an eye out for any updates on this one