For Bryce Underwood, the summer of 2026 could be the one to remember. After an up-and-down spring, the Michigan football team’s sophomore quarterback finally found his stride over the summer, according to coaches.
“We challenged Bryce over the month of May and over the summer,” Wolverines quarterback coach Koy Detmer Jr. said Tuesday. “And to his credit, he hit it. He hit it head on.”
That challenge came after a spring that was far less promising. Because after a promising yet disappointing freshman campaign, the onus was on Underwood to improve in his second season.
But as the Wolverines coaches have indicated during training camp, it was an up-and-down spring for Underwood. And one of the low points was on display for the Michigan faithful as Underwood finished 3-for-9 passing with 22 yards, triggering a mass hysteria among armchair quarterback coaches offering their analysis of Underwood’s game via X posts.
“There were more ups and downs day to day (in the spring),” Wolverines quarterback coach Koy Detmer Jr. said Tuesday.
This fall, however, Underwood’s highs are far more frequent and his lows less so. The products of his summer work have been on full display in training camp.
For Underwood, a key area improvement has been his presence in the pocket. Last year, he frequently showed happy feet in the pocket. As a result, his feet weren’t properly positioned on his throws, leading to misses. And he oftentimes bailed from the pocket altogether, forcing himself to make plays out of structure.
This fall, that’s changed. Underwood’s upped his game, while an offensive line that returns five players who started games last year figures to boost his confidence in the pocket as well.
“He’s a lot more comfortable, and specifically with his feet and his pocket presence, (I) felt like he was in a really good spot and has done a good job.”
Another area of growth has been Underwood’s decision-making. Michigan’s coaching staff doesn’t want Underwood to be superman, after attempting to flaunt his cape too often last season. He’d often follow up nice plays with throws into tight windows or double coverage, resulting in an incompletion, or worse, a turnover.
By all accounts, Underwood’s made less of those drive-killing decisions in practice. Instead, coaches are guiding Underwood in understanding the circumstances of a play and taking what the defense is giving him.
“A lot of it is just talking to him about situational football,” Detmer said. “We’re in a good down and distance … and it’s like ‘okay, hey, let’s take the underneath, let’s take the the pitch and catch if we got it, and if they just so happen to take all that away and we have the big one, great, then let’s take it.’ ”
And with Week 1 currently 10 days away, Underwood’s most recent dress rehearsal was stellar.
“It was good to see that you know him being able to stand in the pocket, deliver the ball to our receivers, and make some real big plays on third and fourth down,” Detmer said about Underwood’s play in the Wolverines’ most recent scrimmage.
While practice buzz is promising, it only matters if it comes to fruition on game day. Come week one, Underwood has a 10 million dollar check to cash.
Whether Underwood’s progress carries over to games could determine the fate of a Michigan offense that’s expected to take a step forward this season . They’ve added talent while returning key pieces at running back and receiver, and the offensive line returns talent as well.
And in a story about that fate, the summer of 2026 is the most important chapter.
