The flip heard around Ann Arbor: Late last year, Sherrone Moore showed that he is more than capable of carrying Jim Harbaugh when he got five-star true freshman QB Bryce Underwood to turn his back on LSU and join the Wolverines. For months, LSU had been his future, his name inked to their plans as the next great quarterback in Baton Rouge. But in December, Underwood arrived at Belleville High School wearing a blue Michigan sweatsuit and signed the papers that officially made him part of Moore’s 2025 class. Underwood’s decision to decommit from LSU and pledge to Michigan wasn’t just a recruiting win; it was a statement. The reported $10 million NIL deal didn’t just break the bank — it sent shockwaves through college football and a message that Underwood was going to be their man as they look to get back to national prominence. So is Underwood’s path to Michigan’s starting QB all set? Well, not so fast.

Michigan fans will remember how Jim Harbaugh eased J.J. McCarthy into the QB1 role, having started him as a rotational backup behind Cade McNamara in 2021. A season and a few games later, McCarthy had come into his own and was their starting QB. You can expect something similar for Bryce Underwood with Harbaugh’s disciple Moore in charge. But who is the player that is expected to compete with Underwood?

CBS Sports’ Josh Pate shared his opinion on whether Bryce Underwood should start as a true freshman or not. “He doesn’t have to. Mikey Keene is on the roster; he has started many, many games; he played at UCF. He’s played at Fresno. So it’s a good situation. You’ve got an experienced guy, sort of a veteran guy, and that makes your floor not so low, but the ceiling is, of course, with Bryce Underwood; he looked different to me than any player that’s come out of high school the last few cycles.” 

Keene will be in his fifth collegiate season this year. He had a 70.5 completion percentage in 2024 with 2,892 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He started his college career at the University of Central Florida and spent two seasons with the UCF Knights including one with new Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey. Keene threw for 647 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception with a 72.3 completion rate that season in his season working with Lindsey and this is something that can tilt the scales in his favor at least at the start of the season.

In his four collegiate seasons, he has played 39 games and completed 67.8% of his passes (793-for-1,170) for 65 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. He has thrown nearly 3000 yards in each of the last two seasons and signed with Michigan in December last year. With his experience, it will make sense if Moore opts for him to at least start the season instead of the 17-year-old Underwood.

About a week ago, Moore sat down for an interview with Adam Breneman and discussed the QB situation at Michigan.

“I feel like we’re in a really good place with the quarterbacks. Obviously, I’ll really start with Mikey Keene, you know, a transfer from Fresno, who… really great player. And you watch cut-ups of coach [Chip] Lindsey showing us things from different places he’s been, and then Mikey Keene shows up on different cut-ups, the dude can really spin it. He’s thrown for over 8,000 yards in his career, and I think he had the third-highest adjusted completion percentage in college football last year. So he’s a guy that has won a lot of football games, played a lot of football in different environments, super smart, excited to have him,” Moore said.

It is clear that Keene has left an impression on Moore and it would not be a surprise to see him line up at the starting position in Week 1 of 2025. So what does it mean for Underwood?

Underwood is Michigan’s highest-rated quarterback recruit ever and the first No. 1 prospect to sign with the Wolverines since defensive lineman Rashan Gary. He is seen as the program quarterback for the future and will carry that responsibility moving forward. You don’t spend that much money on a player if you don’t want to have him sufficient game time. But for now, easing into the role and learning under Keene might do Underwood more good than any harm. The important thing here is how he develops and his time will come.

Pate also has a firm stance on it. “We’re not paying you to sit on the bench and develop. You could pay the guy $5 million; you could pay him $5 billion. His evolution as a player is going to be what it’s going to be. You don’t get to toss him in the microwave just because you paid a lot of money for him.” Translation? Underwood will improve steadily. The pressure will turn the rock into a diamond. Patience is the key.

Hence, there’s a high chance that Bryce Underwood might not take the first snap. But make no mistake — he’s going to see the field. Michigan might use two quarterbacks, similar to how they used McCarthy and McNamara back in the day, easing Underwood in until he’s ready to take over. If he masters dissecting defenses, commanding the playbook, and running the offense independently, he’ll be impossible to keep on the bench. And Sherrone Moore is all in on that.

“Everybody is going to get an even amount of snaps. And then we’ll make a decision, whether it goes in the spring or after spring. But we’re not going to try to rush into it. We’ll figure out whoever that person needs to be.”

On a different but worrisome note, is there a chance that Underwood will move away from Michigan without throwing an official ball? Well, as remote as it may seem, it remains a possibility but Sherrone Moore isn’t paying heed.

Sherrone Moore’s risky move might cost him Bryce Underwood

Letting your star quarterback shine in a spring game while vultures circle? That’s a risk Sherrone Moore appears willing to take with Bryce Underwood. Spring games used to focus on building hype and tradition, but now they’ve become a prime target for poachers. With the national attention and large attendances, there is always a risk for programs putting their best talents on display.

Moreover, since the transfer portal and NIL money have created a free-for-all atmosphere, most coaches opt to keep their top players closely guarded. But if you are already in trouble giving him the QB1 position, showcasing him in the spring game may not be a wise decision. But Moore? He isn’t sweating it.

When asked about the risk, he told On3, “I want to keep our spring game, and it’s just going to depend on circumstances how we can get it done. It’s an opportunity for our players, especially the guys that don’t get to play on those Saturdays, to be in front of a crowd and be in front of people.” That’s a valid point; spring games aid in player development. Yet, this also presents an opportunity for rivals to steal your players in this fiercely competitive game.

This issue traces back to when Matt Rhule accused tampering as the reason why Nebraska lost key players to undisclosed agreements. Dante Dowdell’s departure highlighted the extent of this problem. Hence, the decision by the Hornhuskers HC to the spring game this time around citing tampering concerns before the spring transfer portal window.

Teams such as Texas, USC, Ohio State, and Clemson are no longer just recruiting high school athletes; they are also eyeing college rosters for their next potential targets for financial gain.

Look, the old college football scene has evolved significantly. Players now have the transfer portal as a quick way out, NIL has transformed loyalty into a competition for bids, and schools are continuously persuading their current players to stay. Underwood’s $10 million cost might deter many programs for now, but ultimately, money has the final say. Michigan should ensure they are on the right side of the conversation when the opportunity arises.