Michigan football QB Bryce Underwood talks new coach Kyle Whittingham
Michigan football QB Bryce Underwood talks new coach Kyle Whittingham in Winter Garden, Florida, on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025.
Michigan football’s quarterback is locked in for 2026.
Bryce Underwood, who just finished his first season in Ann Arbor, will return for his sophomore season – he posted the team’s “LFG147” phrase (referencing U-M’s Team 147) on social media to indicate his return. Underwood completed 60.3% of his passes for 2,428 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions as a true freshman in 2025. He also ran 88 times for 392 yards and four touchdowns.
His new coach Kyle Whittingham said earlier on Monday, Jan. 5, that things were trending in the right direction and there could be an announcement soon.
“He has enjoyed his time here, and he is one of the team leaders,” Whittingham said. “He’s a young guy, but he’s one of the team leaders, obviously by virtue of the position. And so he is a guy that we think is going to be a part of what we’re doing going forward.”
The program is built around Underwood, who was the nation’s top prospect in 2025.
Whittingham joined the Wolverines in Orlando during their week of bowl prep, saying that his No. 1 priority was player retention. When he spoke with media during his introductory press conference he’d met with exactly one player: Underwood.
The two spoke for nearly an hour and Whtitingham had a glowing review of U-M’s signal caller.
“I did a lot of listening,” Whittingham said. “I wanted to get feedback from him. I wanted to get to know him. Everything from growing up, family, and what’s important to him. It was a great conversation. He is a special young man. Carries himself the right way. Quarterback has to have the ‘it’ factor, and Bryce has the ‘it’ factor, along with a ton of talent. Big, strong kid.
“His ceiling is very high and the offense we’re going to bring in here is going to suit him and I think he’s really, really going to excel and have a great experience here.”
Underwood has not only helped recruit elite talent – he was a key reason wideout Andrew Marsh joined him a season ago and running back Savion Hiter signed for 2026 – but has the most raw talent of any quarterback to come through Ann Arbor in a long time.
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound passer provides a big arm and a running threat that puts defense in constant conflict. He entered with high hopes, most notably telling Big Ten Network during a fall practice that no one has “seen a freshman” like him. He was often dynamic, but as could be expected for an 18-year-old in the Big Ten, inconsistent.
Whittingham has brought in assistants from Utah – offensive coordinator Jason Beck and quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr. – who have proven success at getting the best out of quarterbacks.
Beck arrived at Utah from New Mexico last season and brought quarterback Devon Dampier. He was named Big 12 newcomer of the year while completing 63.5% of his passes for 2,490 yards, 24 touchdowns and just five interceptions, while also rushing for 835 yards and 10 touchdowns on 146 carries.
Michigan had had three quarterbacks – Jadyn Davis, Davis Warren and, most recently, Mikey Keene – enter the transfer portal this offseason, though none were likely to supplant Underwood.
Now that he’s locked in with Michigan, Underwood will without question be the starting quarterback for the Wolverines in 2026. After a year of learning on the job, there’s hope (and somewhat of an expectation) he will take a big step in 2026, especially with a change in coaching staffs.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
