Bryce Underwood Dealt Clear Warning Before Michigan’s Clash Against Oklahoma originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
After what should be a tune-up contest against New Mexico to begin the 2025 college football season, the Michigan Wolverines should be tested on the road in Week 2 against the Oklahoma Sooners.
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Although Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore has yet to name a starting quarterback, there are many fans assuming that true freshman and former five-star signal-caller Bryce Underwood will be the Wolverines starter this season.
In speaking about Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer, On3’s J.D. PicKell seemed to favor the Sooners over the uncertainty surrounding Michigan and their quarterback competition during his latest episode covering college football predictions.
“Michigan, I I believe is going to start Bryce Underwood by nature of how this this whole thing has played out over the course of spring and the buzz around there,” said PicKell.
Bryce Underwood throws at the Spring Game.© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Underwood, a former five-star recruit and the consensus top player in last year’s class, made a last-minute flip to his commitment, joining Michigan after some time committed to the LSU Tigers. The presumption here is that he only made that change with some assurances he would start right away, though no reporting has suggest as much.
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“That’d be (Underwood’s) first road start,” PicKell continued.
“Now, Bryce Underwood is a bit different, but still to go on the road to a place like Norman, Oklahoma for your first ever college football road start, that’s not an easy task. We’re not teeing it up for 19 to have a whole bunch of success.
“Oh, by the way, you’re playing a Brent Venables defense that’s going to be aggressive as all get out against a true freshman quarterback early in his career. Now, Bryce Underwood could have an awesome career, but the bottom line here is I’m still leaning Oklahoma in that spot.”
However, Underwood still must beat out Mikey Keene, a grad transfer from Fresno State who played his last two seasons with the Bulldogs. Last season, Keene passed for 2,892 yards, 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
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PicKell would go on to say he believes the Sooners could open the season with a 5-0 start, which would come at the expense of Underwood and the Wolverines.
The strong positive feelings about the Sooners has a lot to do with Mateer, a big-time incoming transfer quarterback from Washington State who put up dominant stats last season.
ESPN BET had this matchup open up with a 2.5-point spread in favor of Michigan. The line has increased with the Wolverines as high as 4.5-point favorites.
Related: Former Five-Star QB Already ‘Turning Heads’ At Michigan
Related: Major College Football Program Must Prove It Wasn’t a ‘Flash in the Pan’
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
