Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood believes he can take a big step forward in 2026 after an up-and-down freshman season as the Wolverines' starter.
"Yeah, I've just touched the ground a little bit, sort of got my feet wet a little bit," Underwood told On3's Chris Low when asked if he's only scratched the surface of what he's capable of. "I feel like that's all anybody has seen from me."
Underwood started all 13 games as an 18-year-old in his first season with the Wolverines, posting a 9-4 record with 2,428 passing yards, 11 touchdown passes, and nine interceptions. He also showed the ability to use his legs, recording 392 rushing yards and six scores on the ground.
The two-time Michigan High School Football Player of the Year was the ESPN 300's No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class. He initially committed to LSU but flipped to Michigan and reportedly made $10.5 million in NIL last season.
Underwood flashed his natural talent but struggled to produce consistently, especially late in the year. He connected on just eight of 18 passes for 63 yards and one interception in a 27-9 loss against Ohio State in late November. In Michigan's bowl game versus Texas, Underwood threw three picks in a 41-27 defeat and completed just 54% of his throws.
Out of 17 qualifying signal-callers in the Big Ten in 2025, Underwood ranked 12th in passer rating, 13th in touchdown passes, and 14th in completion percentage.
"I guess I look at it as a test run," Underwood said of his freshman campaign. "I knew I had a lot to learn and that there would be ups and downs. I'm just glad the team welcomed me in and helped me grow as a leader. I knew overall they believed in me, and that helped me never lose belief in what I was doing. I looked at it as we were building together, and we're going to keep building."
Michigan is entering its first season under new head coach Kyle Whittingham after his 22-year run at Utah. The 66-year-old posted a 177-88 record with the Utes, including eight seasons with double-digit victories.
"A very talented young man that really needed to refine some things and an 18-year-old kid starting at Michigan who didn't have a dedicated quarterback coach," Whittingham said of Underwood.
"He did some good things. Now, is there room for improvement? Absolutely, and he will be the first to tell you that, but given the situation, he put up some decent numbers and led his team to nine wins. I thought he handled everything as well as could be expected."
The Wolverines will kick off their 2026 season against Western Michigan on Sept. 5.
