Michigan’s top recruit, Bryce Underwood, has got quite a mouth on him, along with some great football. The Wolverines had all the reason to celebrate when they got the most coveted player of the 2025 class. Underwood has since been adamant about creating a “legacy” at Michigan. That is going to be put to the test against two crucial games this season, officially beginning his college career. Meanwhile, Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel has some things to say about the sign-stealing scandal from 2023.
It’s safe to say that folks at the program have too much on their plates as they step into the 2025 season. Underwood will begin his debut year at Michigan with a lot riding on his shoulders. The program, in general, is also working to steer clear of intricate controversy that it still continues to be maligned with.
Bryce Underwood better watch out for some teams
One of these noteworthy games will be against Oklahoma, their second this season. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach has picked this meeting as the most exciting one for the latter, writes Sooners Wire. This will mark the second time that these two teams face off, with their first being way back in 1976. The other is against Nebraska. Now, both of these teams had an underwhelming show at the conference level. Michigan might have to take games seriously because a wounded team will aim at and work for better performance.
In a March 18 video of College Football Addiction, Seth Fisher of MGoBlog sounded a warning for these two games. He shared why Oklahoma had a chance of winning. “Given who the recruits are, given the kind of players they’ve brought in, given where those players are in their development timeline, you should think Oklahoma is coming to a peak this year.” He added, “They should be a lot better than last year.”
Fisher also puts Nebraska in the “same boat.” “They got a new coach, they had a year zero, had to clean out the players, had to live on some transfers. Now they’ve got a five-star quarterback going to his sophomore season, so he’s not going to have to be coddled as much… they’re going to be a tough test.” Fisher further explained that the Cornhuskers “haven’t been doing anything” for some time. “But they’re coming into that range now where they should be competitors,” he said. Fisher also warned that this is a team Michigan has to “watch out for.”
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA – SEPTEMBER 7: Dylan Raiola #15 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers takes the field against the Colorado Buffaloes at Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2024 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
Bryce Underwood grabbed some eyeballs after he said that he looked to pick up some Heisman trophies and one national title. If that isn’t enough to raise eyebrows, then him casually taking a dig at LeBron James will. He said to the through-and-through Buckeyes fan, “It’s over for Ohio State.” There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Oklahoma and Nebraska might not be popping as potential threats at the moment. As Underwood begins his college career, he’s got to bring some truth to his very high claims.
This is a new chapter after a fresh start for Michigan, both in terms of players and staff. The sign-stealing scandal has put a heavy toll on the program’s future. Calls for a serious punishment have echoed loudly throughout the Big 10. But so far, Warde Manuel implies that there’s no reason to worry.
Michigan AD sets the record straight on sign-stealing scandal
Manuel told 247Sports today that he hasn’t received any further information from the NCAA about a punishment. “I have not had any conversation about postseason bans or penalties that are coming,” he said. The NCAA is yet to issue a final verdict about the scandal. It led to the inevitable departure of former coach Jim Harbaugh from Michigan. This means for Ohio State fans because it’s not anytime soon they’re seeing their arch-nemesis go down.
The AD also made another bold claim. “What I can point to is that Charlie Baker, when we won the championship, said they won it fair and square… [T]hat gives me some sense that they understand that this was a team who won that championship fair and square.” These are strong words made under an ever-burdening weight of criticism and calls for bans for quite some time now.
2025 is seeing a lot of programs take new courses, as is Michigan. Hopefully, Bryce Underwood doesn’t turn out to be all talk and actually brings forth some game that is worthy of collecting a few Heismans and national titles. On the whole, Michigan has to rid itself of shadow of the scandal and continue to put out blue-blood-worthy football for the country to see.
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