Is this really happening? That’s the burning question LSU fans were left with when Michigan pulled off one of the most controversial flips in recent memory, landing 5-star quarterback Bryce Underwood. The catch? Michigan and Sherrone Moore didn’t do it alone. Enter Larry Ellison—the tech mogul, Oracle co-founder, and one of the wealthiest dudes in the world, who has a net worth of 2nd world country GDP ($237 billion). He’s second to Elon Musk. If you are a techie, you know very well who that guy is. He’s like Jim Harbaugh of the tech world.

Ellison’s financial backing and influence gave Michigan and head coach Sherrone Moore the edge in a brutal NIL battle to land Underwood, who had committed to the LSU Tigers. But there’s one twist that has LSU fans fuming: Ellison didn’t even go to Michigan. In fact, he didn’t even go to a school that might make sense—he’s an alum of the University of Illinois. That alone had LSU fans absolutely livid and raging. And the reaction? On god, nothing short of explosive.

Michigan’s quest for Underwood wasn’t just about family connections—though being just 30 minutes from Ann Arbor surely did help. But this, it’s all about money, with Michigan going band for band with LSU in a high-stakes NIL battle. But, if you ask me, without Ellison’s involvement, this blasphemy probably wouldn’t have taken place. Michigan Champions Circle NIL collective chairperson Nate Forbes thanked Ellison for his help in landing a marvellous Underwood, calling his financial backing and advice crucial. For a man like Ellison, $ 10 million wouldn’t even make a tiny dent in his bank

For LSU fans, this flip is painful. They needed someone to replace the inconsistent Garrett Nussmeier. They were looking forward to the off-season. Guess it ain’t happening now. Michigan and Sherrone Moore need this kid very badly. The Wolverines are 5-5 into the season. Their current quarterback room can’t even throw a touchdown in a game. Jim Harbaugh’s and J.J. McCarthy’s departure to the NFL has left Michigan in complete shambles. The Wolverines are struggling so badly at every possible position. Thanks to Ellison for the impact he had on the world and now for the Michigan Wolverines, He might potentially save head coach Sherrone Moore’s career. But the LSU fans couldn’t let this slide.

Reddit reacts to Ellison’s role in Underwood’s flip to Michigan

The LSU community couldn’t contain their frustration. The Tigers’ Fans on Reddit couldn’t hold back on this. One user joked, “We gonna have to start recruiting donors like we recruit players or something lol.” It was clear the idea of wealthy donors like Ellison playing such a huge role didn’t sit well.

And then, of course, there was this theory: “Larry Ellison has a side chick who is a Michigan fan. He just trying to impress her.” Because why not? Fans didn’t hold back when it came to speculating Ellison’s motivations.

But the real kicker? The Oracle co-founder didn’t even have a graduate from Michigan. One fan summed it up perfectly with, “He doesn’t even have a degree from Michigan, tf.” This was like salt in the wound for LSU supporters who felt betrayed by someone with no real ties to the school.

In a bizarre twist of the event, some LSU fans argued that Ellison’s Illinois background made it even worse: “He went to the University of Illinois. Which, honestly, that’s a bigger kick in the n-ts to Illinois than us.” Michigan’s victory in this recruiting battle felt lot personal, not just for Baton Rouge, but for Illinois fans too.

One intelligent Reddit user gave a reality checker for the LSU community: “It’s time for LSU fans to accept that, until this state can turn its economics around, the program is going to be going up against dollars that it cannot match.” If you think about it, this one hits like a powerbomb. With billionaires like Larry Ellison getting involved in college recruitment, it’s clear that money is playing a bigger role than ever before.

This wasn’t just about football. It was about money, power, and feeling like LSU got outplayed by a billionaire who had no real connection to the school. Michigan got its top recruit, but for LSU fans, this one’s going to sting for a while.