Bryce Underwood Reacts to Michigan's Whittingham Hire amid Contract Buyout Rumors

Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood appears to be a fan of the Wolverines' new head coach.

Underwood, whose camp reportedly was "paying close attention to who the next hire" would be, gave new Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham the stamp of approval.

"I was actually pretty excited," Underwood said, per On3. "Really excited to see what he does for the University of Michigan."

Michigan fired former head coach Sherrone Moore earlier this month after finding "credible evidence" that he had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.

One of the biggest questions following Moore's firing was whether Underwood would stay with the Wolverines or enter the transfer portal.

His NIL contract doesn't include a buyout, meaning he could enter the portal if he wants a change. Obviously, that would be a huge loss for Michigan as it looks to get its program back on track following the sudden coaching change.

Underwood was the nation's top-ranked recruit in the class of 2025, per 247Sports' composite rankings. The Belleville, Michigan, native was initially committed to LSU, but ultimately chose to sign with the Wolverines.

Underwood had a decent start to his collegiate career, at least for a freshman's standards. He threw for 2,229 yards, nine touchdown and six interceptions while adding 323 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Michigan finished 9-3 in its first season with Underwood under center.

The Wolverines announced Friday that Whittingham will take over as head coach. He has spent the last three decades on staff at Utah and was the Utes' head coach for the last 20 years.

The 66-year-old announced earlier this month that he would step down as Utah's head coach, and he quickly became a top candidate for the Wolverines.

While Underwood said he's excited about Whittingham, there's still time for him to transfer if he decides he wants out. The transfer portal opens next week and closes on Jan. 16.