The Quarterback Question Defines the Season
Michigan has the talent to win the Big Ten in 2026, but only if Bryce Underwood plays better. The Wolverines need their young quarterback to turn early flashes of promise into steady, reliable production. A strong running game and a star receiver will help, but they cannot carry the team alone. The ceiling for this entire roster depends on one person learning how to handle the pressure of Ann Arbor.
Underwood was a top recruit who stepped into a massive job as a true freshman. He showed he could make big plays, but he also made the mistakes expected from a young player learning the speed of the Big Ten. Now, he has a full year of experience under his belt. He knows the defenses, he has played in big rivalry games, and he understands the weight of the jersey. The team does not need perfection, but they need consistency. Making the easy throws and limiting turnovers could be the difference between a good team and a great one.
Yahoo Sports CFB notes that the running game will remain a huge part of the team’s identity. Jordan Marshall rushed for 932 yards and 10 touchdowns last season on just 150 carries. He is a dangerous weapon who will keep the offense moving. But the Wolverines cannot rely only on the run to beat top teams. Opponents like Oklahoma, Penn State, and Ohio State will not let Michigan control the clock on the ground forever. At some point, the defense will load the box to stop the run, forcing Underwood to make plays through the air.
Building a Connection With Andrew Marsh
Underwood has a major advantage entering his second season: a true number one target in Andrew Marsh. During his freshman year, Marsh became a vital offensive threat, tallying 45 catches, 651 yards, and four touchdowns. He can win downfield, make tough catches in traffic, and handle a heavy load of targets. The two sophomores have a real chance to grow together and build chemistry that will make the offense unpredictable.
With additional talent surrounding Marsh, Michigan should provide Underwood more choices than he possessed in parts of his freshman season. If defenses focus too much on stopping Jordan Marshall, Underwood must punish them for leaving Marsh open. If he can consistently hit Marsh on deep routes, the offense becomes much harder to defend. The team has the pieces to succeed, but the quarterback must be the one to pull it all together. A bad run game can be fixed with a good pass. A bad pass game leaves the offense one-dimensional and easy to stop.
The pressure is on Underwood to show he has grown since last year. He has seen what it takes to play at this level, and now he must prove he can do it every week. The talent is there. The coaching is there. The only missing piece is consistent quarterback play. If Underwood can step up, Michigan could be a top team in the country. If he struggles, the season could fall apart quickly despite the other stars on the roster.
Why Experience Matters More Than You Think
Experience is often the difference between a team that wins and a team that loses. In college football, a quarterback who has played a lot of games has a huge edge over someone who has not. This is true for Underwood, but it is also a lesson we see elsewhere in the league. Bill Belichick recently picked Billy Edwards Jr. as the starter for North Carolina because of his time in the Big Ten. Edwards played a lot of football at Maryland in 2024, throwing for 2,881 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Belichick explained why he chose Edwards over other options. “Billy Edwards has played a lot of football and had a lot of production in the Big Ten in the 2024 season at Maryland,” the coach said. He added, “From an experience standpoint, he has more experience than all the other quarterbacks put together, times five.” This quote shows how much coaches value a player who has been through the fire. Underwood now has that same fire in his eyes. He has been in the fire for a full year.
The mental side of the game is just as important as the physical side. Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Sean Brophy said his backup quarterbacks must be able to process information fast. “If those guys can’t handle that mentally, they’re not going to be they’re not going to stick around here that long,” Brophy said. The Air Raid offense is hard to learn, and the backup must know it inside and out. Underwood faces a similar test. He must know the playbook better than anyone else and make the right reads when the defense changes.
Michigan has a young team with a lot of promise.
