Bryce Underwood will follow a rough season-opening performance by leading Michigan into a marquee non-conference matchup against No. 11 Oklahoma. The quarterback may be facing considerable pressure to play better this Saturday. Michigan narrowly avoided a massive Week 1 upset with a controversial 13-12 win over Western Michigan.
Although he salvaged a triumph with a 47-yard touchdown pass to JJ Buchanan on the final play, Underwood completed just 12 of 22 attempts for 170 yards, a score, and a pick at Ann Arbor. Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham raised questions about Underwood's job security by telling reporters that his starting status was "not infinite." Underwood seemed unaware of those comments when asked Wednesday and responded, "That's cool." That situation led ESPN's Will Compton to magnify the importance of Saturday's game against the Sooners. "This is the biggest game of Bryce Underwood's life," Compton declared on Thursday's "Get Up." Compton suggested that Whittingham publicly challenged Underwood, and the former NFL linebacker questioned the 19-year-old's reaction to his coach's proclamation.
"You had your head coach come out and basically tell the world that his name is written in pencil on the depth chart. He's giving you enough to read between the lines," Compton said. "Then cameras are in Bryce Underwood's face the next day, and he seemed to not even know about that conversation or what was said.
For all he says is, 'It's cool.' Doesn't have the best body language about it." Compton didn't like what he saw from Underwood to start the season, and he wondered if Michigan would consider a quarterback change if the sophomore doesn't improve against a stout Oklahoma defense that allowed 86 passing yards in a season-opening 51-0 win over UTEP. "I don't know what's going through his head. I would say it's an immense amount of pressure because he did not look good against Western Michigan," Compton said.
"He had about 12 balls he threw. The others, it's a first-read mentality. He's throwing into double-coverage; he's throwing into crowded corners.
You got an outfit in Oklahoma that is coming, and this is an elite defense. "So again, this is the biggest game of Bryce Underwood's career. Because if he plays badly, who knows the conversation that's gonna be taking place next week?"
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