‘That’s Something I’ve Never Heard Of’ — Urban Meyer Can’t Believe What He’s Hearing Around Michigan’s Bryce Underwood Situation
· Yahoo Sports
The tension around Michigan sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood exploded following a near-disastrous Week 1 performance. Heading into the season as 27.5-point home favorites against Western Michigan for Kyle Whittingham’s head coaching debut, the No. 16 Wolverines narrowly avoided an upset, winning 13-12 on a controversial 47-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to JJ Buchanan as time expired.
Outside of that single miracle play, Underwood struggled heavily, finishing 12 of 22 for 170 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, and a lost fourth-quarter fumble. The lackluster showing amplified scrutiny surrounding his massive NIL deal, valued at $3 million to $3.2 million annually, and raised immediate questions about his development.
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Urban Meyer Offers Insight on Bryce Underwood
Former college football coach Urban Meyer recently offered insight into Underwood’s situation, citing his close relationship with Whittingham.
“I have more intel than most because I’m very close with the Wolverines’ head coach, and first of all, he loves Bryce Underwood. There’s not a lot of times you’ll coach a player that’s just resisted the coaching, that’s just a pain in the [expletive]. That is not what’s going on there,” Meyer said.
Meyer was also surprised that Underwood did not have a dedicated quarterbacks coach during his freshman season. Michigan’s 2026 staff now includes Jason Beck as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach and Koy Detmer as quarterbacks coach.
“Someone said he didn’t have a quarterback coach. That’s something I’ve never heard of. I’ve never heard of that, especially when you pay a guy $7 million,” Meyer said.
While Meyer acknowledged Underwood’s talent, he pointed out that the quarterback is still dealing with some of the normal challenges that come with being a young passer. “His issue is spatial awareness, going through progressions, and then executing, which is a normal progression for a young quarterback,” Meyer explained.
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Meyer also mentioned Tommy Carr as another quarterback Michigan could consider, noting that the coaching staff is high on his potential.
Ultimately, Meyer believes Whittingham will stick with whichever quarterback gives Michigan the best chance to win.
Underwood Faces a Bigger Test Against Oklahoma
Michigan has continued to support Underwood, but Whittingham has also made it clear that the sophomore quarterback’s starting job is not guaranteed indefinitely.
Whittingham recently said Underwood is the team’s quarterback “right now,” while adding that his position is “not something that’s infinite.” That means Underwood will need to show steady improvement if he wants to remain Michigan’s starter.
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His next opportunity comes against Oklahoma, a much tougher opponent than Western Michigan. The matchup could provide a clearer picture of where Underwood stands and whether he can handle the pressure that comes with being Michigan’s highly touted quarterback.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.