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Ernest Hausmann lauds Bryce Underwood's maturity, preparation for Michigan's QB position

Ernest Hausmann lauds Bryce Underwood's maturity, preparation for Michigan's QB position

USA Today12 hours ago
At the moment, Michigan football does not have a starting quarterback. But everyone -- at least outside of the program -- has a pretty good feeling about who it will be.
Former five-star and No. 1 overall recruit in 2025, Bryce Underwood, got the bulk of the reps in spring ball. He has physical capability that cannot be taught. It may seem like a formality, but head coach Sherrone Moore says the Wolverines will still go through their paces, especially with Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene finally healthy.
While everyone waxes poetic about Underwood, perhaps the best compliments he could receive come from the defense he went up against in spring ball and the one he's about to see in fall camp.
At Big Ten media days, senior linebacker Ernest Hausmann joined the chorus praising the true freshman, noting what he does when people aren't looking and how that makes a difference.
"Bryce is as good as advertised," Hausmann said. "But the thing that I'm really impressed about Bryce is the way he's matured beyond his years. You would never know that he's 17 years old coming into a college program, a five-star recruit, heavily recruited, has high expectations. You would never know that by looking at him, by talking to him at all.
"The quarterback position it's completely open. We don't know who's going to be playing. We don't know who's going to be Week 1, Week 2, Week 3. It could all change, right? But I'm just very impressed at how he's really carried himself as a person because he fit right in well with his quarterback room. Because the whole quarterback room, they love to work. They do so much work behind closed doors that people don't even see -- that I don't even see. But I just know he's a perfect fit for that. He's going to continue to push that room, make that room better. I'm very excited to see what that room does this year."
So, what stands out in particular to Hausmann? He shared an anecdote that shows just how mature Underwood is, even at 17 years of age.
"Like I said, it's his preparation, right?" Hausmann said. "I remember one moment, I'm seeing him before practice, right? Most of the time, people are getting taped up, ready, but he's out there walking through his plays by himself. And so it just goes to show how bought in, how he cares about his preparation.
"Like I said before, the whole quarterback room is so bought into preparation. They all do things like that that we don't see behind the scenes, and it's just so special. And as a defense, I can tell my whole defense. We can trust that. We can trust that room."
The Michigan defense needs Underwood to work out just as much as the offense does. The offense was constantly stymied by subpar quarterback play in 2024, which meant that the defense had to work extra hard to get the ball back.
It didn't always work out as planned.
By the end of the season, the defense was the unit getting the job done. Though the offense had some timely drives -- particularly against Ohio State and Alabama -- it just wasn't the brand of complementary football that Michigan is accustomed to having.
But now, beyond even Underwood, Hausmann says there's a trust that exists between the defense and the quarterbacks. But Underwood, in particular, has done enough to earn a seal of approval from Hausmann and company.
"It's your daily actions that gain the trust of others, right? And he's shown and he's proven to us that he's a high-level person beyond just football players, and that's what we love about people," Hausmann said. "If you're a high-level person, we know what you're going to be on the field. Because with someone, you want to know what you're going to get out of the person on the field. You don't ever want to ask or expect. With Bryce, you know what you can get out of him. He's a high-level competitor. Like I said, he just fits that quarterback room perfectly well, and I'm excited to see who ends up being the quarterback."
Fans will get their first opportunity to see Underwood in an actual college game on August 30 (even if he's not the starter) when Michigan hosts New Mexico for the season opener.
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Indiana ups ante on pathetic schedule. Will College Football Playoff committee clap back?
Indiana ups ante on pathetic schedule. Will College Football Playoff committee clap back?

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

Indiana ups ante on pathetic schedule. Will College Football Playoff committee clap back?

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Who has the best college football stadium? We ranked our top 25
Who has the best college football stadium? We ranked our top 25

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

Who has the best college football stadium? We ranked our top 25

Talent and coaching will take you places in college football, but only so far. The best programs in the Bowl Subdivision play for conference and national championships in part because of mesmerizing home-field advantages that have etched many Power Four and Group of Five venues into the very fabric of the sport. While home teams have won about 60% of games during the past 20 years, some programs are nearly unbeatable on their home field. As examples, think of the reception visitors receive at Death Valley (LSU or Clemson), or the intimidation factor at Big Ten icons such as Ohio Stadium and Beaver Stadium. But let's try and tackle this controversial debate: Which Bowl Subdivision stadium is the unfriendliest? With no shortage of options, USA TODAY Sports tracked records, traditions and environments to list the 25 most inhospitable stadiums in the FBS. The list begins with LSU's version of Death Valley and is stocked with the biggest names in the Big Ten, SEC and elsewhere: 1. 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The tradition started in 1998, took a very brief, highly controversial hiatus in 2003 and became a rallying cry during the Badgers' development into a Big Ten powerhouse under former coaches Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema. 20. Doak S. Campbell Stadium, Florida State Doak can be listless, as during last year's dismal 2-10 finish. But it's also been the site of several legendary wins against some of the most high-profile opponents in the country and continues to rank among the unfriendliest venues for visitors when the Seminoles are rolling. Overall, FSU is 322-109-4 at Doak Campbell (74.5%). 21. Lane Stadium, Virginia Tech Start with the best introduction in college football: Virginia Tech takes the field to Metallica's "Enter Sandman," quickly setting the tone for what can often be the scariest place to play in the ACC. While the home-field advantage has taken a hit this decade, the edge provided by Lane Stadium helped put Tech on the map under legendary coach Frank Beamer. 22. 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How many miles will Nebraska football travel in 2025?
How many miles will Nebraska football travel in 2025?

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

How many miles will Nebraska football travel in 2025?

One of the biggest changes to college sports over the past several seasons has been conference realignment. With the realignment, regional conferences now stretch coast to coast, resulting in an increase in travel and a dramatic increase in the miles traveled. The Big Ten Huddle did the calculations, and the numbers are eye-popping. No surprise that the four former Pac-12 teams will travel the most in the Big Ten Conference in 2025. Oregon leads the group, with the Ducks scheduled to travel 8,128 miles. Illinois will do the least amount of traveling, with only 2,735 miles scheduled this season. The Huskers ranked tenth in the Big Ten, with 3,790 miles scheduled. Nebraska will open the 2025 college football season on the road. They will face the Cincinnati Bearcats at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 28. The Cornhuskers will only travel four times during Big Ten play. They will play at Minnesota, Maryland, and Penn State, but the farthest road trip in 2025 will be on November 8 when Nebraska plays the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl. Find the entire Big Ten breakdown below. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

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