“It’s a battle,” Sherrone Moore said of Michigan’s QB competition. “It’s going to go all the way to call camp.” But is it? If you watched the Wolverines’ spring game, you might have mixed feelings on Bryce Underwood, the program’s crown jewel, the No. 1 overall player in the class of 2025. The stat-line was rough—12 completions on 26 attempts for 187 yards, a couple of delay-of-game calls, and more than a few high and wide throws. But there were also flashes of brilliance. 

Bryce Underwood ended the scrimmage with an 88-yard reverse flea-flicker bomb to Jalen Hoffman. As David Cone, former Michigan QB and host of Crain & Company, put it, that specific play was the kind you only bust out in a spring game. But, as he also noted, that play signals that Sherrone Moore and co. aren’t hiding their 17-year-old QB anymore. Discussing this on a new episode of Locked on Wolverines on May 9, Cone acknowledged the good and the bad from the spring game, pointing out that a good offense can sometimes make the defense look sloppy.

“The positive thing about this is he’s already taking starting quarterback reps in the spring, which I mean a lot of guys aren’t even getting on campus until it’s fall camp. So in my opinion, he is ahead of the game,” he said. “He’s going to be a true freshman. I think Bryce is going to start Week One here.” Now that’s the level of confidence surrounding the 5-star weapon. 

This isn’t just talk. It’s a former QB saying the talent and preparation are next level. And it’s not just David Cone hyping him up. Connor Stalions, the now-notorious figure in Michigan’s sign-stealing saga, served as Bryce Underwood’s OC in his high school at Belleville in 2024. And from what Cone recounted, this one’s not just about the talent. “I talked to Connor Stalions who was able to coach him,” he said. “He said, ‘Man this goes way beyond his talent level.’ Because I played with a lot of talented guys. Talent gets you so far… But from my perspective, it sounds like gus work ethic is beyond anything that anyone has seen.” This is the kind of stuff that separates a raw five-star from a future Heisman. 

Oh well, Bryce Underwood’s got dreams, big ones. “A couple of Heismans and at least one natty,” he said on the Rich Eisen Show. That’s the bar. And that’s not your average freshman Q&A answer. That’s a guy on a mission. Sherrone Moore, for his part, kept things measured—“He did well. Made some really good throws and had some things we need to clean up and get better at.” But deep down, he knows this is the kid that could define his coaching legacy. That is, if he gets to keep that legacy at all. 

Sherrone Moore’s clock might be ticking 

So here’s the thing. While everyone’s eyes are on Bryce Underwood, the NCAA still has its eyes locked on Sherrone Moore. And the Wolverines know it. The self-imposed two-game suspension? It somehow seems like a safety precaution, maybe desperation?

As Josh Pate pointed out, Michigan may be bracing for something heavier. “It’s just a guess. I haven’t called my friends at the NCAA and asked them, but my best guess on this is Michigan understands something harsher than a two-game suspension for Sherrone Moore is coming. That’s their best guess.” Meaning? They’re hoping to soften the NCAA’s blow before it lands. 

But if you look at it, Michigan didn’t choose Weeks 1 and 2 against Fresno State and Sherrone Moore’s alma mater, Oklahoma. They picked Weeks 3 and 4 against Central Michigan and Nebraska. That’s a calculated bet. But there’s a growing sense that a show cause might follow, which prevents coaches from coaching in college. And if you believe Big Ten insider NevadaBuck, Moore’s toast. “Sherrone Moore is done at Michigan,” he said. “He’s done. I don’t think he’s ever going to coach again at Michigan. I think his tenure’s done.”

So, while Bryce Underwood might be Michigan’s future, Sherrone Moore has the possibility to become Michigan’s past.