Ann Arbor – Bryce Underwood, Michigan’s freshman quarterback, has started 11 games this year, but he has never played in The Game – Michigan vs. Ohio State.
It is arguably the greatest rivalry in college football, and the 121st installment is Saturday at Michigan Stadium when top-ranked and unbeaten Ohio State faces No. 15 Michigan (9-2, 7-1 Big Ten) which is playing for a potential spot in the Big Ten title game and College Football Playoff.
Underwood, the No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, grew up in nearby Belleville and has been around this rivalry. Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said Monday that the freshman gets what it’s all about as he prepares for his first start in this game.
“He’s well-educated on the rivalry,” Moore said. “He knows everything about it. He’s seen it from afar and we’ve talked about this game for a very long time, whether it be spring ball, training camp, the summer. Everybody knows what this game is all about. They all understand it.”
Moore suggested there will be no change to Underwood’s game-week routine. While it is a special game with considerable stakes for the Wolverines, the concept is to not make this game bigger than it is for the freshman.
That’s been the approach this season for Underwood as he gets this first season under his belt. He is 171 of 275 passing for 2,166 yards and has nine touchdowns and five interceptions. Underwood also has run for 322 yards on 68 carries and scored five times. Underwood certainly has not been perfect and made mistakes through the season, but he has consistently carried himself with confidence.
That is a positive, especially with a young quarterback learning the college game.
“What I see from him is a guy that the moment’s not really ever too big,” Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said this week on the “Inside Michigan Football” radio show. “He’s had some ups and downs just like any young player would but still believes in himself. He’s never lost his confidence. At the same time, he’s the first one to point at himself and say, ‘You know what, that’s not good enough. I made a mistake.’”
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, No. 2 among Big Ten quarterbacks, will also be making his first start in the Michigan-Ohio State game. The Buckeyes have a different season trajectory and already are a lock for the playoff. But they haven’t beaten Michigan the last four games, including last season when Ohio State went on to win the national championship. Sayin has completed 79% of his passes for 2,832 yards and has 27 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Underwood, meanwhile, ranks ninth in the Big Ten in passer rating. He also has the lowest touchdown total among the top-10 quarterbacks. The next closest is Maryland freshman Malik Washington, who has thrown 14 touchdowns. Until last Saturday’s game at Maryland, when Underwood had two touchdown passes, he had gone three games without throwing one.
Still, his natural ability and the fact he can run when needed, has caught Ohio State head coach Ryan Day’s attention. Day said the Michigan offense, which ranks 40th nationally averaging 418.1 yards and has relied on the run game (12th nationally at 223.0 yards) starts with Underwood.
“He’s a dangerous player,” Day said this week, describing Underwood.
Moore said Underwood was at the football building Sunday night until nearly midnight watching film with his receivers. He was back Monday morning breaking things down with Lindsey.
“He’s just so intentional with everything,” Moore said. “He wants to be so good, and he works his tail off, and he’s so humble about it.”
Marlin Klein, a tight end and captain this season at Michigan, said he sees Underwood as grounded at 18 years old despite all the hype surrounding him and the huge reported $10 million-plus NIL payday that helped bring him to Michigan.
“He’s a celebrity,” Klein said. “(But) just him growing up in front of my eyes, it’s been awesome to see. The growth that he’s shown, especially these past couple of weeks on the field, it’s been amazing to see.”
Klein described Underwood’s “celebrity” as something that exists outside of the football building.
“And when he comes in here, he’s our little friend,” Klein said, drawing laughs. “He’s my starting quarterback. I love the kid. He’s such an awesome kid. I mean, if you told me that he was just some random kid, I’ll believe you, because he’s just such a nice and humble kid.
“A lot of kids, if you hand them those checks and the cars and all that stuff, all these NIL deals, they’ll probably switch up. And he hasn’t done that at all. He’s the most humble 18-year-old ever I’ve ever met with all these achievements. He’s ready to go, so just super excited for him to get this opportunity on Saturday and really feel his emotions for the first time.”
Underwood approaches the game, Lindsey said, like it’s a classroom. He’s learning on the field, and he learns off it with his offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.
“It’s my 29th year doing it,” Lindsey said of coaching quarterbacks. “The guys that don’t repeat mistakes are the guys that end up being great players, and so far that’s been him. He doesn’t repeat a lot of mistakes. Once he sees it and understands it – whether you’re talking about progressions or defenses or pressures – he doesn’t repeat those mistakes a lot. And I think that’s going to go a long way in his development.”
Playing a clean game is of utmost importance for Underwood against Ohio State. There are so many other elements to this game, but eliminating turnovers is a high priority for Underwood as he makes his first start in The Game.
“He was born to be a quarterback,” said UM fullback/tight end Max Bredeson, a two-time captain. “He’s ready to play this game and I’m excited to go see him do it.”
Freshman review
Bryce Underwood will be at least the fourth true freshman to start at quarterback for Michigan against Ohio State. How three previous QBs fared:
2009 (Tate Forcier): Ohio State 21, (at) Michigan 10. Forcier had his worst game of the season, throwing four interceptions as the Buckeyes won their sixth straight in the rivalry. He completed 23 of 38 with one TD.
2004 (Chad Henne): (At) Ohio State 37, Michigan 21. Henne completed 27 of 54 passes for 328 yards with two TD and two interceptions for No. 7 Michigan but the unranked Buckeyes won in an upset.
1975 (Rick Leach): Ohio State 21, (at) Michigan 14. Leach scored on a quarterback keeper to give Michigan a 14-10 lead with seven minutes left in the game. But Pete Johnson scored twice on short runs as OSU rallied for the win.
achengelis@detroitnews.com
