Michigan's Bryce Underwood was overhyped, now it's the exact opposite

July isn't just hot. When it comes to college football, it's hot take season, and plenty of college football experts have their Bryce Underwood hot takes ready.

If you listen to rival fans, Underwood is the worst quarterback ever. He's not, but thanks to all the hype surrounding him at the start of last season, Underwood is now viewed as a disappointment.

It's fair to say that Underwood didn't meet expectations last season. However, since then, the expectations have been re-adjusted too far in the other direction.

That's probably a good thing. Underwood needs to have a chip on his shoulder. He was too comfortable last season. Sherrone Moore seemed scared to give Underwood the kind of coaching that he needed. Kyle Whittingham isn't.

And it's exactly what the 6-foot-4, 225-pound quarterback needs.

Still, not everyone is a believer. Two writers from The Athletic ranked the top college football quarterbacks. Overall, Underwood ranked 31st. In the Big Ten, he was 10th, among the fourth tier with Anthony Colandrea of Nebraska, among others.

Bryce Underwood has a lot to prove but is being underrated

Underwood has a lot to prove, but if he's the 10th-best quarterback in the Big Ten next season, that will be a problem. It's hard to see Michigan football winning more than eight or nine games in that scenario, because there are some really good quarterbacks on the schedule, including a few that could be in the Heisman Trophy conversation.

It's too much to expect that kind of season from Underwood. He seems better than the 10th-best quarterback in the Big Ten, especially after a freshman season that was more productive than some want to remember.

Underwood was held back by the coaching staff. He wasn't allowed to run often, despite averaging 30 yards per game, and they didn't let him air it out enough either.

There were solid games against Washington, Wisconsin, Maryland, Northwestern, and USC, as well as some duds against Ohio State, Michigan State, and Oklahoma.

If Underwood just runs as much as the staff is saying he will, that will make a big impact. The 60-percent passer should benefit from better receivers, a better offensive line, a quarterbacks coach, and a year of seasoning under his belt.

It would be surprising if Underwood didn't improve. We'll see if he can get on the level of Dante Moore, Julian Sayin, Jayden Maiava, Josh Hoover, and Demond Williams, or Malik Washington, Rocco Becht, Malik Washington, Nico Iamaleava and Drake Lindsey.

Either way, it feels as though Underwood's being underrated. That's the exact opposite of last summer, but maybe it's right where it needs to be.

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