It's easy for rival fans to say that Bryce Underwood was handed the Michigan football starting quarterback job, which was announced earlier this week by head coach Sherrone Moore.
However, it's clear to anyone that's been paying attention -- who has been watching Underwood progress -- that he wasn't given the starting quarterback job at Michigan. It was earned.
How Bryce Underwood earned the Michigan football QB job
"He's earned the opportunity. It was not given to him," Moore said on Monday via the Big Ten Network. "All the other quarterbacks had a really good camp as well. Jadyn Davis has really come along. But Bryce really took the necessary steps and took the position. He took ownership of his abilities and took ownership of the team, and became a leader on the team. He did things the right way, used his skill, and never tried to do too much."
As much as the five-star quarterback should be a superstar for Michigan football, he doesn't have to be that for the Wolverines in 2025. Mostly, he needs to manage the game, take care of the football, convert some third downs, along with an explosive play here or there, and left the defense do its job, as well as the offensive line and the running game.
Underwood has wowed everyone who has watched him. He's 6-foot-4, 228 pounds. He can make every throw imaginable. But not trying to do too much will be a huge key for him and the Wolverines this season.
Regardless of that, Moore made it clear that Underwood won the job because of the work he put in, not because of an NIL deal or his recruiting ranking. The Wolverines will open the season Saturday night against New Mexico.
That's when Underwood will make his first career start.