ESPN's Matt Barrie questions Bryce Underwood's ability to lead U-M to elite status in 2025
Analysts look back at 2024, and some say, OK, you can see the building blocks, evidenced by the late-season success with wins over Ohio State and Alabama. Others just downplay it all, look at a schedule that only features three teams with a winning record from last year, and decries it as tough -- with the expectation that there will be little-to-no improvement for the Wolverines on the field.
On ESPN's Always College Football podcast hosted by Greg McElroy, Matt Barrie first discusses Underwood and his reservations, but also gives a series of caveats to go along with his concerns.
"Bryce Underwood -- I mean, you want to think that (he could have a good first year), right?" Barrie said. "I mean, because Jim Harbaugh, when he was there, you just saw little by little what he was trying to build, and it all culminated in the national championship season, because he had the right guys returning at the right time to make a run. And I point that out because it's hard right now. Yeah, you'd like to think Bryce is everything he's advertised and more. You'd like to think the new offense -- you'd like to think Sherrone Moore's figured it out, and you would like to believe that Michigan's now going to get back to where they belong among the, not only the conference, but the country's elite. I just always have a hard time, Greg. I have a hard time finding a true freshman quarterback that can not only wow us, but in a power program like Michigan, from day one to day and game 14, 15, 16 nowadays, be the guy that elevates them back to the national championship conversation.
"I'm not saying it can't be done, and I'm not saying he's not capable of it. It's just hard to do. It's hard to do in a league that's won the last two national championships. And so Michigan will be a problem. Hell, they've beaten Ohio State how many years in a row? Three, four, five years? Whatever the case might be, they've beaten them even when Ohio State went on to win the national championship. So it's tough. And I believe that Michigan, at some point, under Bryce Underwood, is going to be back here at the top. For me, for true freshmen, to do it from snap one to the final snap of the season, it's just so tough to do. But I wouldn't balk at a 9-3, 10-2 season."
McElroy was a little hesitant, given what happened last year, with Michigan losing games to Texas, Washington, Illinois, Oregon, and Indiana. But Barrie says that those who expected the Wolverines to reload entering 2024 after losing the bulk of the 2023 national championship team, were deceiving themselves. He doesn't say this as a knock, but more optimistically about the trajectory of Sherrone Moore's maize and blue squad given the late-season rebound.
"I disagree. I think Michigan -- and we can go on a whole tangent about preseason rankings," Barrie said. "Look at who Michigan lost to the NFL. So there was 8-5, 7-5, six -- there was no way they were going to do better than that. None. Because of everything that they lost. And so to assume that they were just going to be the Michigan that won the national title before, that was just short-sighted and naive. Now you give them a chance to rebuild, it took Harbaugh how many years to get it to that? Doesn't just happen overnight. So I think just like the Napier situation, the record was impressive considering what was going on."
Fans will get an opportunity to see for themselves on August 30 when Michigan opens up the season at The Big House against New Mexico before taking the show on the road to face Oklahoma in Norman in Week 2.
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But the opportunity has to materialize. 'I know who I am and what I can do with the right circumstances,' she said. 'Being as though I still find a way to win even in messed-up circumstances, I can agree. In regards to her—the girls she's fought had ample time, resources, and support to prepare to fight her. Unfortunately, people are going off a four-round fight I took off the couch on two-and-a-half weeks' notice.' 'Every fight we've had has been competitive. She's gotten decisions over me, but I've never gotten my ass beat. In fact, some argue I beat her before in the amateurs. Politics and BS have plagued my career, but it's cool. I'm just trusting my journey and doing my thing.' While Shields is smartly mapping out her future with financial goals in mind—as she should—there's still a lingering question around the decision to invite Crews-Dezurn and others to Detroit only to leave them with no real clarity on next steps. 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She stayed out the ring for two years after me.' Crews-Dezurn isn't shy about how she sees herself in the current landscape. 'I know I'm a problem—especially when I'm on. It's high risk for Shields and all of them. When I debuted against Shields, I bet on myself—and that turned into undisputed champion, unified champion, longest-reigning champion. I've paid my dues. I shouldn't be disrespected like how boxing is doing.' 'They want the best fighting the best—I am one of the best. A true champion that got it out the mud, off the muscle. Been at 168 my whole career. I'll gladly come to heavyweight to fight. What are we doing?' If we're being honest, Shields is running out of legitimate heavyweight challengers. She'll either need to come down in weight or fight someone like Crews-Dezurn soon. To be clear: Shields has never had a reputation for ducking challenges. But if this fight doesn't happen soon, whispers could easily turn into outright claims. 'Franchón Crews is one of the best fighters in the world,' Salita said. 'When you strip away the spin and bias, she stands out as the biggest and most challenging fight for Claressa. This isn't speculation—it's proven history. In one of the toughest pro debuts in boxing history, these two champions faced each other, and both went on to become dominant forces in the sport. This is a clash between two elite world champions, each with a track record of stepping up to fight the very best.' A Shields-Crews-Dezurn matchup would have something many of Shields' recent fights haven't—two fighters with name recognition and championship credibility. 'Franchón's legacy in the sport is already cemented,' Kahn added. 'She has already had a Hall of Fame career. Becoming a two-time undisputed champion will be the icing on the cake. I know what she is capable of, and I believe the timing is right for her to pull the upset of all upsets.' Maybe we'll get the chance to find out if he's right.
