Michigan’s Momentum: Can Bryce Underwood and the Wolverines Continue Their Dominance in 2025?

By Jason Bolton June 10, 2025 09:10

As the Michigan Wolverines gear up for the 2025 college football season, all eyes are on Bryce Underwood, the nation’s top-ranked quarterback recruit and a hometown hero from Belleville, Michigan. Underwood’s arrival has injected fresh optimism into a program that boasts one of the nation’s most formidable defenses but has struggled to find consistent quarterback play in recent years. The question now is whether Underwood and the Wolverines can sustain and build upon their momentum heading into the new season.

Underwood’s credentials are nothing short of spectacular. A five-star recruit and the consensus No. 1 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class, he shattered Michigan high school records with 152 passing touchdowns and 179 total touchdowns during his career at Belleville High School. His senior year alone saw him throw for 2,509 yards and 32 touchdowns with a completion rate of 71.8%, while also rushing for over 600 yards and six additional scores. Underwood’s leadership helped Belleville to an impressive 50-4 record, including two state championships and a historic undefeated season in 2022.

Michigan’s coaching staff, led by head coach Sherrone Moore, flipped Underwood from LSU in a major recruiting coup, banking on his ability to elevate the Wolverines’ offense to match their top-10 defense. The team’s previous quarterbacks combined for 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last season, underscoring the urgent need for a dynamic playmaker at the position.

Underwood’s spring game performance offered a glimpse of both his potential and the learning curve ahead. He completed 12 of 25 passes for 187 yards, including a spectacular 88-yard touchdown on a reverse flea-flicker to tight end Jalen Hoffman that electrified the 30,000 fans at the Big House. However, he also showed typical freshman growing pains, with errant throws, a fumble recovery, and a couple of delay-of-game penalties. Despite these ups and downs, Underwood displayed poise and resilience, attributes that bode well for his development throughout the season.

ESPN and Sporting News have already projected Underwood as Michigan’s starting quarterback for the 2025 season, with ESPN ranking him as the No. 20 overall newcomer in college football and Sporting News placing him among the top 25 quarterbacks nationally. This confidence stems from his physical tools standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 208 pounds and his ability to extend plays with his feet, an increasingly valuable skill in modern college offenses. The presence of experienced competitors like Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene, who missed spring practice due to injury, provides Underwood with a safety net and motivation to sharpen his skills during fall camp.

The Wolverines’ success in 2025 will hinge largely on Underwood’s ability to quickly adapt to the speed and complexity of college football. Analysts have drawn parallels between Underwood and recent successful true freshman quarterbacks such as Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson, suggesting that while the transition is challenging, the upside is immense. Michigan’s balanced roster, featuring a stout defense and a talented supporting cast on offense, creates an environment conducive to Underwood’s growth.

In sum, Michigan’s momentum in 2025 is closely tied to Bryce Underwood’s emergence as a leader and playmaker. His record-breaking high school career, combined with early signs of promise in spring practices, signals that the Wolverines have found the quarterback to potentially sustain their dominance. While the freshman will face inevitable challenges, the blend of talent, coaching, and fan support positions Michigan to continue its ascent in college football’s elite ranks this season. As Underwood himself acknowledged about the pressure, “I can’t stop that” but it’s clear he’s ready to embrace it.