When Michigan football signed five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, the thought was that he would transform the Wolverines' offense overnight.
It didn't quite work out that way, for several reasons. Michigan wasn't in a great position to support a true freshman quarterback. There was a head coach who didn't have a clue about quarterback development; there wasn't a dedicated QB coach, and the plan didn't suit Underwood.
Will Underwood be that player this season? It's hard to say. Quarterback development isn't linear. It's a process. The sophomore should take a huge step forward. I'd expect a more efficient quarterback, one who takes better care of the football.
The fundamentals have improved, and the buzz about a breakout season is there. However, Michigan football fans won't have to wait for Savion Hiter's sophomore season for him to break out. That's going to happen in 2026, and he will have the immediate impact on the offense many hoped Underwood would have last season.
To be fair, Michigan's offense scored more points and gained more yards in 2025. It was a modern offense, at least compared to the 2024 team, which could barely complete passes 10 yards downfield, especially after Colston Loveland went down.
Savion Hiter will be a transformational freshman for Michigan football
Hiter is coming into a different situation. Jordan Marshall is one of the best running backs in the Big Ten. He averaged more than six yards per carry in conference play last season. The Wolverines don't have a need to Hiter to make a massive impact. He could be RB2 and that would satisfy the need.
That's not Hiter, though. The 5-foot-11, 212-pound freshman was projected by CBS Sports to be the freshman of the year in college football. Kyle Whittingham has gushed about Hiter whenever asked about him, and he doesn't seem like someone prone to hyperbole.
A top-10 recruit, according to 247 Sports, Hiter isn't an ordinary freshman. Behind an offensive line that should be among the best in the Big Ten, and a head coach who is committed to running the ball, even with the improvement we have seen from Underwood, Hiter should shine.
The Wolverines need him to. If you want to talk about beating Ohio State, Hiter needs to play like the best freshman in college football. That's how Michigan football can close the gap.
Underwood needs to develop into one of the Big Ten's best quarterbacks, and the team will need to be better in other ways, too, especially on defense.
However, it also needs Hiter to be one of the most impactful freshmen in college football, something Underwood just wasn't last season.
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