Where Michigan's Bryce Underwood checks in on CBS Sports' ranking of Big Ten QBs
Michigan Wolverines football freshman Bryce Underwood checked in at No. 8 in CBS Sports writer David Cobb’s rankings of the top 18 quarterbacks in the Big Ten entering the 2025 season.
Underwood ranked behind Penn State’s Drew Allar (No. 1), Ohio State’s Julian Sayin (No. 2), Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza (No. 3), Illinois’ Luke Altmyer (No. 4), Washington’s Demond Williams Jr. (No. 5), UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava (No. 6) and Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola (No. 7).
Illustrating just how productive Underwood is expected to be in 2025, the Michigan signal-caller slotted ahead of six quarterbacks who have started games for Big Ten institutions — USC’s Jayden Maiava (No. 9), Oregon’s Dante Moore (No. 10), Michigan State’s Aidan Chiles (No. 11), Wisconsin’s Billy Edwards Jr. (No. 13), Rutgers’ Athan Kaliakmanis (No. 16) and Purdue’s Ryan Browne (No. 17).
With the 1-18 ranking, Cobb projected the starter for each Big Ten team, and has Underwood slotted in for Michigan. He and Maryland’s Malik Washington (No. 15) are the only true freshmen to be projected starters in the conference. Underwood was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class, while Rivals’ Industry Ranking had Washington at No. 105 (11th-best quarterback).
Cobb expects Underwood to lift Michigan’s offense to greater heights, and less lows, than last season.
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“It would be impossible for Michigan’s quarterback play to be worse than it was last season,” Cobb wrote. “Considering Underwood draws comparisons to Cam Newton and Vince Young, the Wolverines might be right there with Iowa in terms of who in the Big Ten upgraded most at QB.”
However, the writer pointed out that Michigan may have some growing pains with Underwood, since this season will be his first taste of game action in college football.
“Even the most highly touted true freshman quarterbacks take their lumps, though, and it would be unwise to expect Underwood to be anything close to a finished product out of the gate,” Cobb continued. “If this were an upside ranking, he would be No. 1, but there will be potholes to navigate in 2025.”
Only five Big Ten teams are returning their full-time starting quarterback last season, meaning Michigan will be one of the 13 breaking in new ones (since graduate Davis Warren is working back from an injury and not expected to open the 2025 season as the starter). However, Underwood has not been named the starter; he’ll have to earn the job in fall camp, with the Wolverines set to have him compete with graduates Mikey Keene and Jake Garcia and sophomore Jadyn Davis.
