Michigan began its 2025 season with a 34-17 victory over New Mexico, but the Wolverines showed room for improvement despite the win. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood delivered a steady debut, completing 21 of 31 passes for 251 yards and one touchdown, yet the offense never fully found a higher gear.
Analyst Joel Klatt praised Underwood's performance, highlighting both his poise and areas that remain untested.
“If you were just evaluating Bryce Underwood and his debut as a true freshman, I thought he was excellent. I really did,” Klatt said on his show Wednesday. “I thought he was poised, I thought that this stage is not going to be too big for him. He was not afraid to make big throws. He led them in situational football, in particular right before the half, in a two-minute situation right down the field.”
Klatt noted that Michigan kept the game plan controlled, with Underwood operating primarily from the pocket. While the freshman impressed as a passer, his ability to run, an element expected to strengthen the offense later in the season, was not showcased.
The challenge now shifts dramatically as Michigan prepares for Oklahoma.
“We should be more aware of guys making their first start on the road at quarterback because it is difficult,” Klatt warned. “And you have no ability as a quarterback to recreate that environment or even imagine what it will feel like to walk on the road.”
"We should be more aware of QBs making their first start on the road."@joelklatt with more as QB Bryce Underwood and No. 15 Michigan head to Norman to take on No. 18 Oklahoma. pic.twitter.com/JynQLgygJd
— The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football on FOX Pod (@JoelKlattShow) September 4, 2025
Norman presents a daunting setting. Gaylord Family–Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, often called “The Palace on the Prairie,” holds 83,000 spectators and was listed by EA Sports’ College Football 26 as the eighth most difficult stadium for visiting teams.
Against Brent Venables’ defense, Underwood will face a far steeper test, with Michigan needing sharper execution on both sides of the ball.