It could be a big season.
David Pollack Names Major College Football Program Set to Bounce Back After Down Year originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2024 college football season did not go as planned for the defending national champions.
The Michigan Wolverines, who won the national title in 2023, finished the season with a disappointing record of 8-5. A significant factor in this decline was the poor performance of the offense, particularly at the quarterback position, after J.J. McCarthy, the starter in 2023, was selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
Throughout the season, the team utilized three quarterbacks who collectively amassed 1,655 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. As a result, their offense ranked among the lowest in the nation, placing No. 129 in total offense, No. 130 in passing offense and No. 113 in scoring offense.
Following the season, Alex Orji transferred to the UNLV Rebels, and Jack Tuttle graduated, leaving only Davis Warren on the roster. However, the Wolverines received a significant boost to their quarterback situation by securing a commitment from Bryce Underwood, the top overall player in the 2025 recruiting class.
Despite the down season, David Pollack expressed on his podcast "See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack" that he expects Michigan to return to form this season.
"I know Michigan is going to get back to more semblance of Michigan," Pollack said.
Pollack has tried to manage the expectations of Wolverines fans regarding Underwood's performance. He believes that Underwood will not produce impressive statistics in his first season as the starting quarterback. According to Pollack, it will take time for Underwood to adjust, much like many players do when transitioning from high school to the college level.
Despite this, Pollack noted some positive aspects of Underwood's game. He believes that Underwood has a strong arm and good mobility. He concluded by saying that while Underwood may not shine right away, there is a lot to be optimistic about for the future.
During the spring game, Underwood had a mixed performance, completing 12-of-26 passes for 187 yards. His most notable play was an impressive 88-yard pass to tight end Jalen Hoffman on a reverse flea-flicker.
In addition to his passing attempts, Underwood exhibited some struggles. He fumbled once but managed to recover it, committed two delay-of-game penalties and made several inaccurate throws, with a few passes being dropped. He lost 12 yards on two sacks but gained 17 yards on three rushing attempts.
Michigan is scheduled to open its season against New Mexico on Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Related: David Pollack Reveals Major College Football Team That Scored Big With New QB
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
