Michigan QB Bryce Underwood not expected to play in spring game

The face of Michigan football will likely not play this weekend when the Wolverines scrimmage at Michigan Stadium.

Quarterback Bryce Underwood is not expected to suit up for the Maize vs. Blue spring game on Saturday, April 18 (2 p.m., Big Ten Network) a person with knowledge of the situation told the Free Press on condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to speak publicly.

Coach Kyle Whittingham said earlier this month that a number of U-M's proven commodities would not suit up, but it was not entirely clear who he was talking about.

"The main thrust is, [it's] a great chance for us to get a good in depth, concentrated look at the 2s and 3s," first-year coach Whittingham said Thursday, April 9 at Schembechler Hall. "There's going to be a lot of 1s that don't participate. We're not going to put a guy in there that we know what he can do, and he's where he needs to be, and he's played hundreds of snaps here − there's no reason for that.

"It's a chance to showcase the 2s and 3s in as close to a game environment as we can structure."

Underwood finished his true freshman campaign in 2025 with a 60.3% completion rate, 2,428 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions and was the unquestioned starter coming into spring ball. It makes sense for U-M to use this opportunity as a way to get more clarity on the depth chart to a certain extent.

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However, quarterbacks who participate in the spring game have historically worn a red or white jersey to signify "no contact," meaning there's little to no risk for an injury.

Michigan is also operating a new scheme under offensive coordinator Jason Beck, so this could've been seen as an opportunity to get the rising sophomore some work in a live environment, but U-M has opted to work on its depth at the position.

There's no proven experience behind Underwood at this moment after left the program after just a few months in Ann Arbor, leaving and as the only signal callers behind Underwood.