Michigan expected Bryce Underwood to be the spark that carried the program into its next era. He arrived as the nation’s top quarterback recruit, backed by one of the biggest NIL pushes the Wolverines had ever organized.
Michigan finished 9–3, a respectable record but far from the dominance fans expected with Underwood at the controls. Underwood’s freshman campaign delivered flashes but not consistency. The Wolverines needed a quarterback who could elevate them in big moments. Instead, the season ended with questions about development, fit, and the long-term direction of the offense.
That disappointment has fueled speculation that Underwood could explore the transfer portal after just one year in Ann Arbor. Those rumors picked up even more steam when Dave Portnoy publicly stepped back from defending him.
During an appearance on ‘The Triple Option’ podcast, Portnoy, who has been one of Michigan’s loudest supporters and a key figure behind the scenes during Underwood’s recruitment, stated he’s no longer interested in keeping the QB.
“I’m out of it. He’d have to have some big balls to say he wants to renegotiate now…I don’t think that’s coming down the pike. That would be surreal. I’m out of it,” Portnoy said. “It really seems like if somebody came along and said, ‘Hey, Bryce, here’s $20 mill.’ I think he could bounce if he wanted to. I don’t think there’s any rules going on with that, as far as I could tell.”
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The same person who once championed the quarterback now sounds content to move on should Underwood decide to walk. For a player tied to a significant NIL investment and a highly visible recruitment battle, the shift is striking.
Dave Portnoy Revealed How the Wolverines Signed Bryce Underwood
Before the season, Portnoy openly described how Michigan managed to land its prized quarterback. He recalled multiple conversations, a coordinated sales pitch, and a push that combined brand power and financial muscle.
On the ‘Barstool College Football Show’, Portnoy talked about marketing advantages, long-term positioning, and the backing of influential Michigan supporters who could outmatch almost any competing offer. But he didn’t like the idea of people giving him major credits for it, so he decided to share the spotlight.
“I’m getting tons of credit online for flipping Bryce. While I love credit reality is I played a tiny roll. Rest assured there are Michigan Men + Women out there making things happen behind the scenes. I’ve never been more confident that Mich is poised to dominate in this new world,” he WROTE on X.
Im getting tons of credit online for flipping Bryce. While I love credit reality is I played a tiny roll. Rest assured there are Michigan Men + Women out there making things happen behind the scenes. I’ve never been more confident that Mich is poised to dominate in this new world
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) November 22, 2024
That context makes his recent withdrawal of support even more notable. Portnoy once pushed hard to bring Underwood to Ann Arbor. Now he is signaling that the program will continue to rise with or without him.
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