Bryce Underwood clearly shows his freshman behavior in the way he celebrates his TDs. But head coach Sherrone Moore isn’t impressed with it. Now, Michigan QB1 wasn’t really spectacular against Michigan State. He completed a mere 8 out of 13 passes for 86 yards. But then, his dual-threat potential came out as he rushed for 26 yards on five carries. He also scored the game’s first touchdown on a slick 13-yard dash. After that touchdown run, Underwood admitted he had the flip in mind but held back, knowing Sherrone Moore wasn’t a fan of risky celebrations.

Instead, Underwood struck a confident Paul Bunyan Trophy pose in the end zone, causing Moore to chuckle and later joke about the youngster’s celebration ideas. But can you blame him? Moore practically scared them, saying, “No, no, no. I saw you and Jordan (flip) after the game, no more of that.” Jordan Marshall was yet another menace on the field.

Marshall completed 110 yards on 15 carries, securing yet another TD in his resume. And after that final kneel-down of the game, both Underwood and Marshall performed the flip. Underwood revealed earlier this season how Moore sincerely banned the backflip celebration since the freshman arrived at Ann Arbor.

“The first day I got here, Coach Moore straight said, ‘No backflips, I have no time for you getting hurt,’” Underwood told On3 Sports. “That’s unfortunate. So who knows if it comes or not? It still might be a possibility, ’cause sometimes he gives me a pass here or there.”

Bryce Underwood getting injured is the worst nightmare for the Michigan Wolverines, and it’s easy to see why. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound freshman QB with a $12M prize tag from Belleville is the cornerstone of Michigan’s 2025 season. His dual-threat ability to make plays with his arm and legs has Michigan hopeful for a College Football Playoff return. As of now, the freshman QB has racked up a total of 1526 yards. In that, Underwood has rushed for 202 yards this season. During the game against the Trojans, Underwood gave fans a bit of an injury scare as he limped at the end of the game.

Sherrone Moore has always been very particular in keeping Underwood limited to passing just so he doesn’t face any injury scare. Now, it’s somewhat fair if you think from a coach’s perspective. But then, because of this strictness, Underwood was unable to reach its full dual-threat potential. During Moore’s suspension, interim HC Biff Poggi intervened and set Bryce free. In the Central Michigan game, the results were electric. Underwood exploded for 235 passing yards with a touchdown and added a sneaky 114 yards on the ground. He even rushed towards the end zone, scoring two rushing TDs.

And as far as celebrations are concerned, Underwood can unlock all kinds of celebrations that don’t require him to exert pressure on his body. The core reason is that Underwood contributes very efficiently to the Michigan ground game. Like against Michigan State, the Wolverines’ offense leaned on its running game, racking up 276 of their 362 total yards on the ground.

Michigan gets a reality check for The Game

Michigan is now standing with 6 wins and 2 losses. However, the major test is still looming as the Ohio State game is looming large. Ryan Day’s Buckeyes are gunning for their second national championship in a row. They are cruising undefeated at 7-0. Ohio State’s secret sauce? Defense first. Day’s top-ranked defense is suffocating offenses left and right. In their recent 34-0 shellacking of Wisconsin, the Buckeyes forced seven punts and stopped multiple third- and fourth-down conversions.

Matt Patricia’s unit makes it a nightmare for rival QBs and RBs. Keeping that in mind, we all know how the Wolverines’ offense operates. Though Bryce Underwood is a dual-threat QB, he relies heavily on his run game, and it bears results, no doubt. But will it do the same against the Buckeyes’ secondary? Ryan Day’s strategy is clear: control the clock, grind out long drives, and keep the ball away from Michigan’s explosive skill players.

Justice Haynes is supposed to be the one perfectly fitted in this context. The guy ran for 857 yards on 121 carries and even scored 10 TDs. Now, if we go back to the past a bit. Last year, Michigan defeated the Buckeyes 13-10. But the score didn’t tell the full story, as Michigan could rack up just one proper touchdown, given by Kalel Mullings. But this year, the Buckeyes’ defense is playing lights out. Thus, for Michigan and Underwood, the stakes are sky-high.