Bryce Underwood's Struggles Analyzed by CFB Insiders, Michigan QB 'Looks Like He's Seeing Ghosts'

Ahead of Saturday's game between No. 11 Oklahoma and unranked Michigan, an anonymous coach suggested that the Sooners created the blueprint for stopping Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood last season.

In 2025, Oklahoma beat Michigan 24-13, and Underwood was held to just 142 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions on 9-of-24 passing.

Speaking to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, a Big Ten defensive coach said, "Oklahoma put a lot of stuff on tape [to defend Underwood] for the playbook last year. [Sooners coach Brent] Venables exposed him. Underwood struggles with all that variance that Venables loves to do. They have so much volume of stuff, and guys are getting calls in late. It's almost like OU can be too exotic with all they're doing, but even if they cut [a Michigan receiver] loose, I don't know if Underwood could find him. It looks like he's seeing ghosts. This is not a great matchup for him."

Michigan landed Underwood, who was the No. 1 overall player in 247Sports ' class of 2025 rankings, thanks to a reported $12.5 million NIL deal .

Expectations were high for Underwood as a freshman last season, but he largely struggled as a passer, completing 60.3 percent of his attempts for 2,428 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

His 2026 campaign didn't get off to a much better start, as he went 12-of-22 for 170 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a controversial 13-12 win over Western Michigan.

Underwood threw a game-winning, Hail Mary touchdown to JJ Buchanan as time expired, but that was only because the officials put one second back on the clock after the first Hail Mary was incomplete.

The 19-year-old Underwood has yet to come anywhere close to living up to his billing, and if he has another rough outing against the Sooners, it is fair to wonder how long head coach Kyle Whittingham will be willing to stick with him as the QB1.