The last-ditch Hail Mary saved Kyle Whittingham from an upset in his debut as Michigan’s head coach, but many concerns were immediately raised about quarterback Bryce Underwood.
The Wolverines thought they had a star quarterback after landing Underwood, but his performance in the Western Michigan game again raised doubts about that notion, triggering a reaction from Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe.
Shannon Sharpe Raises Doubts Over Bryce Underwood After Michigan’s Narrow Escape
Underwood entered the Class of 2025 as a five-star recruit and the No. 1 overall prospect in the country, regardless of position. However, his early struggles raise questions about whether he can live up to the massive expectations around his arrival in Ann Arbor.
Former Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore made a major push to flip Underwood from LSU, and the effort eventually paid off. Underwood became the highest-rated offensive commitment in Michigan program history.
At a time when the Wolverines were searching for a successor to national championship-winning quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Underwood was seen as the long-term answer.
Underwood reportedly received an NIL deal worth approximately $12 million over four years. The expectation was that the highly touted quarterback would eventually become the centerpiece of the Wolverines’ offense and help the program compete for championships.
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However, the investment has not produced the results many anticipated.
Underwood’s situation became a major talking point during the latest episode of the “Nightcap” podcast, where Sharpe offered a rather pessimistic assessment of the Michigan quarterback’s future.
“He might stay longer than that, considering the way he played,” Sharpe said. “He might wanna get a 5th year.”
The BIG 10 releases statement after controversial ending in Michigan’s win over Western Michigan…
Western Michigan isn’t trying to hear none of this 😅@ShannonSharpe | @ochocinco | @TheJoeJohnson7 | #Nightcap pic.twitter.com/oACGN4sR7y
— Nightcap (@NightcapShow_) September 7, 2026
“You had to pay him because everybody in the country wanted him. So to keep him from going, sometimes you gotta overpay,” Sharpe noted.
Underwood got the QB1 nod in the 2025 season, but he finished the year with a lackluster performance, ranking No. 79 in PFN’s College QB Impact Rankings.
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Underwood struggled again with his reads in the Western Michigan game, completing just 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards and one interception. His touchdown also came in dramatic circumstances, with an additional second being placed back on the clock at the end of the game.
Without that extra second, Michigan would not have had the opportunity to make the game-winning throw.
Underwood ultimately took advantage, though, completing a 47-yard Hail Mary for the touchdown to give Michigan a stunning win. However, it did little to alleviate concerns about his overall performance or the big investment Michigan has made in him.
Former LSU star Breiden Fehoko was among those who strongly criticized the quarterback and suggested that Michigan’s significant investment in Underwood has not paid off.
“Bryce Underwood stole a lot of booster money from Michigan. Heist of the century. He’s unplayable,” Fehoko tweeted.
Michigan will face Oklahoma on Saturday, giving Underwood a much tougher test and another opportunity to prove he can eventually become the elite quarterback Michigan believed it was getting when it pulled off the stunning flip.
