Anonymous Big Ten coach feels Chip Lindsey developing Bryce Underwood will make Michigan a postseason contender

Michigan‘s passing game was its weakness last season. Thankfully for Wolverines fans, one anonymous Big Ten coach believes freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood will be the antidote to Michigan’s ailment.

“They would’ve been a serious postseason contender last year if they had a quarterback on the roster,” the coach told Athlon Sports. “Now they do, so it’s all about how fast [Chip] Lindsey can get him up to speed and going.”

The Wolverines recorded just 129.1 passing yards per game last season, the fourth-least in the country. Michigan’s passing problems were largely due to the team’s inconsistency at quarterback.

Davis Warren kicked off the season as Michigan’s QB1. Alas, after three games, the Wolverines benched Warren and started Alex Orji instead. Orji started for two weeks before being replaced by Jack Tuttle.

Tuttle also only held the coveted starting spot for two weeks before Warren reclaimed it and started the final six games of the season. With Underwood as the expected starter, Michigan fans are hoping to avoid watching the same headache unfold this season.

Talent wasn’t Michigan’s only issue last season. The team’s system also needed improvement. Thus, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore hired Chip Lindsey this offseason to be Michigan’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He served in the same role at North Carolina in the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.

Lindsey helped mentor current New England Patriots QB Drake Maye and could help Underwood find similar success. Michigan wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Ron Bellamy has certainly been impressed by Underwood.

“He doesn’t get rattled. He’s always working,” Bellamy said. “You love that as a coach, because you know the quarterback usually leads the team and guys follow. You can see that following now with some of the guys — not just guys in his class, but some of the older guys too that Bryce has done a good job with.

“… “We’ve had a lot of great quarterbacks at Michigan. I don’t think it would be fair to Bryce to say who’s comparable to him now, because he hasn’t taken a snap yet. But obviously, there are a lot of great things that he’s done thus far in a short time. You can see it — you can definitely see it.”

It won’t be long before Bryce Underwood and Chip Lindsey have a chance to show off their offseason work to the nation. On Aug. 30, Michigan will kick off the 2025 campaign with a showdown against New Mexico at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on NBC.