Bryce Underwood displays all dimensions in No. 23 Michigan’s 63-3 win over Central Michigan

The No. 23 Michigan football team opened up the playbook against Central Michigan.

After struggling to get anything going on offense last week against then-No. 18 Oklahoma, the Wolverines gave the Chippewas multiple different looks. As a result, freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood was used in all dimensions of the game and ended the game nearly as quickly as it started.

Underwood had 44 yards through the air on the first drive, and he added a 16-yard run to the right on third-and-9 to move the sticks. After moving 73 yards down the field, junior running back Justice Haynes punched in Michigan’s first of nine touchdowns on a 2-yard run.

The first drive was emblematic of the remainder of the game for the Wolverines’ offense and Underwood. Michigan (2-1) led a nearly perfect first-half offensive clinic in order to secure a rebound win over Central Michigan (1-2), 63-3. Under Wolverines interim coach Biff Poggi and revamped playcalling from offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, Underwood thrived in a rejuvenated offense.

On the ensuing drive, Michigan added another 8 yards running, but also showed off Underwood’s ability to throw with a 32-yard pass lofted to junior wide receiver Semaj Morgan. Two drives later, Underwood again flashed his newly displayed ability to run with a 30-yard score on a designed keeper.

As Michigan’s defense kept the Chippewas off the field with three first-half three-and-outs, the Wolverines — both using Underwood and also using him as a disguise for other plays — marched their way down the field on nearly every drive in the first half.

An end-around run to freshman wide receiver Andrew Marsh added to the score. And to end the first half, Underwood led a methodical two-minute drive that ended in a 1-yard touchdown from sophomore running back Jordan Marshall with nine seconds left on the clock.

When all was said and done in the first half, Underwood had more completions and yards against Central Michigan than he did the entire game against the Sooners. While Underwood still made some freshman mistakes, most notably a severely underthrown ball for his first career interception, he led Michigan to an insurmountable 35-3 halftime lead with 211 yards in the air and 86 on the ground.

Despite the large lead, Michigan kept to the game plan, and Underwood didn’t slow down. After scoring on the first drive of the half, Underwood kept the ball on a fourth-and-1 in Chippewa territory. The play broke down but Underwood broke a tackle and cut back to the left, running in for a 18-yard score to extend the lead to 46. 

That final highlight play ended Underwood’s day as he was taken out with just under three minutes to go in the third quarter, finishing with 349 all-purpose yards and three all-purpose touchdowns. 

Even with Michigan coach Sherrone Moore out for his self-imposed suspension, Underwood let loose. Underwood and the Wolverines’ offense played multi-dimensional football, exactly what they were criticized for lacking against Oklahoma.

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