The Bryce Underwood episode is one of the things that the Michigan Wolverines fans are going to remember for the longest time. What a chase it was! And if reports are to be believed, the Name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal had a major bearing on Bryce’s flip to Sherrone Moore’s squad from Brian Kelly’s LSU, with the involvement of an astonishing amount of money. 

Originally committed to the LSU Tigers, there were reports that the school had an offer on the plate for him that would pay $1.5 million annually for four years. It was a deal that the Wolverines were willing to surpass. So, they made Underwood an offer that was hard for him to refuse. Their four-year deal was reportedly worth $10 million, with some reports even claiming that he could make up to $12 million during his time in Ann Arbor. Indeed, Michigan went all-out to secure this as Moore took over from Jim Harbaugh. Guess how.

The collective that helped get the deal done for Underwood was Champions Circle. It turns out that billionaire Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle, was funding the venture, as revealed to Front Office Sports by Roger Ehrenberg, the co-founder of Champions Circle. In a statement originally released by Champions Circle chairman Nate Forbes, the tycoon was personally thanked. However, Bryce never spoke a word on the NIL aspect of his flipping. So what was his stand?

Bryce said Michigan’s standing as an academic school helped sway his decision and declined later to answer a question about the NIL push. He also said the attention from Michigan alumni such as Tom Brady was “nice”, but he was more focused on the academic aspects. “Honestly, school,” Bryce said when asked why Michigan was the right fit. “School is a big thing as well. My education is everything and also me pushing my hometown school, my hometown big college, to the next level and to a couple of national championships.” His football future is set, but academic? Looks like some back-and-forth is still going on there!

On February 7, the quarterback released a Q&A session on his YouTube channel. That’s when Underwood was faced with another question. The chit read, “What major will you choose at U of M?” Looks like the athlete is still in two minds. At first, he said, “Psychology or sports management um yeah either one of those two.” Underwood has developed a strong interest in psychology since he was in 10th or 11th grade. It’s an absolute WIN-WIN situation for the player to pursue his major. After all, the University of Michigan has a good psychology program. However, the QB changed his decision in a split second.

Right after standing by Psychology, “I might go with it,” “I heard sports management was kind of easy so might make that little change,” Underwood sounded all confused. But, apparently, the Michigan freshman early enrollee QB is enjoying his days in Moore’s squad, In an interview with WXYZ’s Brad Galli, Bryce said, “I’m enjoying it, really. It’s just life, you know? Life moving faster than what I thought, but it’s just a blessing to be here.” Underwood has been busy signing his first on-card autographs with Leaf Trading Cards. 

Not just about his major, the confusion persists in sports too. “Could you go D1 in basketball?” came another question for the QB. He confidently replied, “If I train for it like I did football.” Train or not, Bryce has got definite interest in basketball. In December, on the eve of Early Signing Day, the future Michigan QB was out at a Detroit Pistons-Milwaukee Bucks basketball game at Little Caeser’s Arena. For good reasons, Bryce received an overwhelming welcome.

He had courtside seats for the matchup, portions of his commitment video played on the jumbotron, was announced to the crowd by Pistons’ PA announcer John Mason, and received a custom-made Detroit Pistons jersey featuring his name and number. However, on that day also, Bryce did not have any dilemma about his commitment to Michigan. “Honestly, I’m very pleased with the decision that I made, and honestly, it was just mainly a family thing, a business aspect. So, my family I feel like will be more set in everything that we have to do and it makes it easier on their half,” Bryce had said on that day. Michigan must also have been pleased. And for good reasons.   

Why is Bryce Underwood Michigan’s crown jewel?  

On February 4, On3 released its list of Instant Impact 2025 signees. No wonder Moore’s QB tops the list. Definitely, Underwood comes off being a generational player. Not to forget, he comes to Ann Arbor to fill the biggest position of need on the roster. On3’s No. 1 overall prospect enters an offense at Michigan, saw three different quarterbacks start games, and finish 130th nationally in passing yards (133.6 yards per game).

Even after landing in Moore’s squad, the quarterback never runs out of accolades. Michigan’s 2025 ace recruit shared an Instagram Story from the Football Forever page. It read Underwood is the first player in the history of college football to achieve a ‘100 rating’ from On3. But what made him enjoy the limelight?  The post also read, “The combination of size, arm talent, and athleticism is reminiscent of players like Josh Allen and Cam Newton.”

Later on, 247 Sports’ Clint Brewster shared, “It’s going to be impossible to keep Underwood off the field, and I would expect him to have a similar impact as some other talented freshman signal-callers we’ve seen in the past like Terrelle Pryor and Jalen Hurts.” Jalen Hurts was the No.1 dual-threat quarterback of the 2016 class and helped Alabama to a 14-1 campaign. While Terrelle Pryor was the No.1 recruit in the class of 2008. So, Bryce Underwood has already taken everyone to confidence. He just needs to stick to one path instead of putting his feet in two boats.