For perhaps the first time this season, Michigan football fans have something important to be optimistic about.

While the on-court results haven’t lived up to expectations, the defending champs have (for now) followed up their run like a Big Ten of sorts with perhaps their biggest recruiting prize yet.

Five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 player in the 2025 high school recruiting class, suddenly switched his longtime commitment to LSU to the maize and blue. It wasn’t necessarily a surprise — reports surfaced in recent months that Underwood, a star player at nearby Belleville High School, had a lucrative financial offer on the table to make such a move — but an important step for the future to help strengthen.

Underwood’s subsequent announcement on social media, featuring a tear-jerking video montage of his youth, complete with a mock announcement from a young boy, announcing Michigan as his one-day college of choice, came with a full statement: “Hometown hero.” While Underwood has yet to commit to Michigan (he’s expected to do so as soon as December) nor play in a game, everyone involved is treating him as such.

Coaches and boosters spent Thursday night celebrating the decision, one that came with a lucrative multi-million dollar financial package tied to the NCAA’s name, image and likeness rules, presumably big enough to pull him away of his LSU obligation. And while critics may say Michigan’s money cannon proved to be the difference here, the end result is exactly the same.

More: What Bryce Underwood’s commitment means for the 2025 class

Underwood, the highest-ranked recruit in Michigan football history, trailing the likes of Rashan Gary, Jabrill Peppers, Ryan Mallett and LaMarr Woodley, will have a chance to play quarterback and make a difference in the maize and blue league. It’s a game-changing decision for first-year coach Sherrone Moore and his staff, who are desperate to find their franchise quarterback of the future à la JJ McCarthy after playing a merry-go-round with the position this year. Some believe Underwood, whose 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame makes him a man among high school boys, could step onto the field and start on Day 1 in Ann Arbor.

It would be a departure from the past at Michigan, where tradition and pride often kept young stars, especially at QB, waiting for their turn. But much like today’s changes in the college football landscape when it comes to recruiting, Moore seems destined to diverge from his predecessor, Jim Harbaugh, who believed in a “transformational, not transactional” experience.

While it remains uncertain how Underwood fares with all eyes and attention on him, his addition to the 2025 recruiting class is paying off for Michigan. A day earlier, Underwood’s teammate at Belleville, four-star safety Elijah Dotson, switched his commitment from Pittsburgh to UM. The Wolverines already have four-star wide receiver Andrew Marsh in the fold and reports say another high-profile wideout, four-star Derek Meadows, an LSU commit who wants to play with Underwood, could now be in the picture.

That’s the overlooked aspect of landing a high-profile recruit like Underwood. Presumably he will stay at Michigan for the next three to four years and eventually become one of the best in college football. That will attract other high-level talent eager to play with him. As they say, rising tides (in this case at quarterback) lift all boats. Underwood can do that for the Wolverines, desperate for a quick infusion of offensive talent.

And now, with two games left in the regular season and an early signing period looming, the focus is now shifting to the offseason. Moore needs to make some key personnel decisions, fill some holes through the transfer portal and complete a roster overhaul. Remember, Michigan is losing a lot of high-level veteran talent to the NFL, making Moore’s quest to rebuild so important.

Luckily for him, the most crucial piece is in place. Michigan may be struggling its way through a 5-5 season, but the future looks bright. And only numbers that become clearer.

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