‘He took ownership of the team’: Sherrone Moore confirms Bryce Underwood will start season opener

For months, Michigan has been expected to start former five-star and highly touted freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood in the 2025 season opener against New Mexico. Underwood’s unique combination of size, athletic ability, football knowledge and undeniable talent has long made him the leader in the quarterback room over the likes of Mikey Keene, Jadyn Davis […]

Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood is off and running this spring. (Photo by Bryce Underwood / Instagram)

For months, Michigan has been expected to start former five-star and highly touted freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood in the 2025 season opener against New Mexico. Underwood’s unique combination of size, athletic ability, football knowledge and undeniable talent has long made him the leader in the quarterback room over the likes of Mikey Keene, Jadyn Davis and Jake Garcia.

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Although Underwood had been expected to be the starter for quite some time, the decision was all but officially made on Sunday night when On3’s Pete Nakos reported that Michigan had named Underwood as its starting quarterback.

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore was set to make the decision official during his weekly Monday press conference less than 24 hours after the news broke on Sunday night, but any remaining suspense regarding the quarterback battle was eliminated on Sunday night — Bryce Underwood is Michigan’s starting quarterback.

As expected, Moore confirmed the news on Monday.

“[Underwood] has earned the opportunity. It was not given to him. He took ownership of the team.”

Underwood, who turned 18 years old last Tuesday (Aug. 19), will become just the fourth true freshman in Michigan football history to start the season opener, joining Rick Leach (1975), Chad Henne (2004) and Tate Forcier (2009).

At 6-foot-4 and 228 pounds, Underwood enters the season physically ready for a full regular season in the Big Ten, which is something that cannot be said about most freshman quarterbacks. However, it’s Underwood’s love for and knowledge of the game that really stands out to Moore.

“For a young guy coming out of high school — really poised, really loves the game, really excited about it and a great teammate. That’s really the things you love about him,” Moore said of Underwood during the Big Ten Network’s training camp tour episode, which aired live on Friday night. “He’s got great talent, but I think his knowledge of the game is really vast for a young guy, and I’m excited to see where it goes.”

During the hour-long episode, former Michigan tight end Jake Butt met with Underwood to discuss his goals for the upcoming season.

“Shock the world, you know? They’ve seen a lot of freshmen, but I feel like nobody’s seen a freshman like me,” Underwood said.

“Do whatever it takes to get my team to wherever they want to be, which is the national championship,” Underwood said. “Of course, beating Ohio State is one of the other things, as well. So, however I can prepare my team like that, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Michigan and New Mexico will kick off from Michigan Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night. The game will air live on NBC.

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Category: General Sports