Before he ever took a snap in maize and blue, Bryce Underwood made a promise that has now curdled into a punchline.
“They’ve seen a lot of freshmen,” the five-star phenom famously told the Big Ten Network in August. “But I feel like nobody has seen a freshman like me.”
On Saturday, the Ohio State defense proved him right—but not in the way he intended. They saw a freshman they could confuse, rattle, and ultimately erase. In a suffocating 27-9 victory, the Buckeyes didn’t just beat Michigan; they turned the Wolverines’ $12 million investment into a liability.
Underwood’s introduction to the rivalry was a nightmare played out in high definition. The nation’s No. 1 recruit looked every bit the part of an overwhelmed 18-year-old, completing just 8 of 18 passes for a season-low 63 yards. He failed to lead a touchdown drive, tossed a game-sealing interception to Davison Igbinosun, and posted a QBR that barely registered a pulse.
For a player whose arrival was heralded as the “blueprint” for Michigan’s post-Harbaugh era—funded by a historic NIL package reportedly worth upwards of $12 million—the return on investment in Year 1 has been alarmingly low.
The “Buyer’s Remorse” whispers in Ann Arbor have officially graduated to full-throated shouts.
But the optics today were brutal. After spending the offseason boldly predicting Ohio State’s demise — even telling fans and media “it’s over for Ohio State” — Underwood didn’t just lose the game. He lost credibility. Saturday Blitz+2FOX Sports+2
To many fans now, that swagger feels naive. To some analysts, it looks like buyer’s remorse.
BRYCE UNDERWOOD IS PICKED OFF@OhioStateFB's defense does it again pic.twitter.com/z945FIE9ZO
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 29, 2025
Is this the start of a downward spiral?
The chatter is already growing: Will Underwood stick around through the growing pains — or will this shaky freshman year push him toward the transfer portal? With expectations so high, a performance like today’s can sting.
Michigan still has time to salvage the season. But if Underwood doesn’t show growth fast — and if he continues to struggle under pressure — those bold 2025 NIL dollars might start feeling like a heavy investment for little return.
— The loss doesn’t just go in the record books. It lands on reputation.
