The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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32 THE WOLVERINE ❱ OCTOBER 2025 BY CHRIS BALAS L ast year, Michigan went into the season with a huge ques- tion mark at quarterback, one that never got answered. That kept the Wolverines from reaching their potential as a team, and — some would argue — from competing for a playoff spot despite a huge win at Ohio State to end the regular season. Head coach Sherrone Moore and his staff addressed that need in the offsea- son, bringing in a generational talent in freshman Bryce Underwood to take the reins. It was a no-doubter after Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene was injured in the offseason, and Underwood has taken the ball and run with it. Though he ranked only 104th of 128 quarterbacks in passing efficiency rating through four games, Un- derwood has taken the offense to a much higher level. The Wolverines were 47th nationally with a hefty 35 points per game average and boasted the 11th-best rush- ing attack at 253.5 yards per game (aided by the threat of a passing game). They put up 30 points in a key 30-27 road win at Nebraska in which Underwood hurt an opponent with his feet for the second straight week (8 carries, 61 yards and a touchdown after running for 114 yards and 2 scores on 9 carries in a 63-3 win over Central Michigan a week earlier). The coaches learned a lesson after handcuffing him at Oklahoma, interim head coach Biff Poggi said while filling in for Moore, insisting it wouldn't happen again. "When he started using his legs [against CMU], some designed runs that Coach Moore really felt strongly about, that got him off to a good start running the football," Poggi said. "Then, the scrambles and the broken plays. How do you defend against that? You can't stop it all. "You have to pick your poison, and with a kid like this, you come into this game and you say, 'We're going to have to stop him throwing.' And then he winds up with 114 yards rushing [against CMU]." MAKING PROGRESS Michigan's Offense Is Coming Around Under Freshman QB Bryce Underwood Led by Underwood (left) and junior running back Justice Haynes, the Wolverines were ranked 47th nationally with a hefty 35 points per game average and boasted the 11th-best rushing attack at 253.5 yards per contest through the first four weeks of the season. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL