Bryce Underwood Struggled Badly As Ohio State Completely Dismantled Him

Before stepping onto the field adorned in maize and blue, Bryce Underwood made a declaration that has since become a source of jest. “They’ve witnessed many freshmen,” the five-star talent proclaimed to the Big Ten Network in August. “Yet, no one has encountered a freshman like me.” On Saturday, the Ohio State defense validated his statement—not in the manner he envisioned. They confronted a freshman they could disorient, unsettle, and ultimately neutralize. With a commanding 27-9 win, the Buckeyes didn’t merely triumph over Michigan; they transformed the Wolverines’ $12 million investment into a liability. Underwood faced a nightmarish initiation into the rivalry, completing just 8 of 18 passes for a dismal 63 yards without leading a touchdown drive and capping it off with a damaging interception. For a player whose arrival was touted as the future of Michigan post-Harbaugh, Year 1 returns have been unsettlingly low. The anticipation has morphed into buyer’s remorse as the fallout from a disheartening performance reverberates.