Last December, the Michigan Wolverines pulled off a jaw-dropping move in the college football recruiting world. They flipped five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood from LSU.
This wasn’t just another recruiting twist. It happened thanks to a wild Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal, pulled together by Dave Portnoy and Larry Ellison.
The deal? People are saying it’s worth over $10 million across four years. That puts Underwood among the highest-paid college athletes out there, which is kind of surreal if you think about it.
Let’s dig into what’s actually in Underwood’s NIL package, what he might earn, and what this all means for Michigan and college sports in general.
Michigan’s Historic Flip: Bryce Underwood’s NIL Deal
So, how did Michigan pull this off? They convinced Bryce Underwood, the country’s top recruit, to ditch LSU and come to Ann Arbor.
It’s hard to overstate how much NIL deals are changing the game. The package, rumored to be north of $10 million, might be one of the biggest ever for a college athlete.
Details of the NIL Deal
What’s actually in this deal? It’s not just the money—the structure is wild, too.
- A multi-million dollar valuation: Over $10 million, apparently, and way more than LSU could offer.
- Brand collaborations: Underwood’s already landed deals with Beats by Dre and Barstool. Not bad for a freshman.
- Merchandising opportunities: He’s teamed up with Michigan’s NIL collective to launch his own merch line.
On3’s NIL Valuation for Bryce Underwood
On3’s got a system for projecting what athletes might rake in between roster value and market value. For 2025, they peg Underwood’s annual value at $3 million.
That slots him in as the eighth-highest paid college athlete, and seventh for football, even though he’s just starting out.
Comparative Analysis
Just for some context, here are the top 10 highest-paid college athletes according to On3:
- Texas, QB, Arch Manning: $5.5 million
- Miami, QB, Carson Beck: $4.9 million
- Ohio State, WR, Jeremiah Smith: $4.2 million
- BYU, SF, AJ Dybantsa: $4.1 million
- LSU, QB, Garrett Nussmeier: $4 million
- South Carolina, QB, LaNorris Sellers: $3.7 million
- Oklahoma, QB, John Mateer: $3.2 million
- Michigan, QB, Bryce Underwood: $3 million
- Duke, QB, Dorian Mensah: $2.9 million
- Texas Tech, PF, JT Topin: $2.8 million
Impact on Michigan’s Athletic Program
Landing Underwood isn’t just a win for Michigan football. It’s a shot in the arm for the whole athletic department.
He’s one of five Michigan athletes in On3’s top-100 NIL earners list. Here are the others:
- Yaxel Lendeborg: Basketball
- Morez Johnson: Basketball
- Aday Mara: Basketball
- Justice Haynes: Football
Broader Implications
Underwood’s deal is setting a new bar for future recruits. It’s kind of wild to watch NIL agreements take over as a major recruiting tool.
Schools are using these deals to pull in top talent, and it’s changing the whole landscape.
Future Projections for Bryce Underwood
Looking ahead, Underwood’s NIL value will probably keep climbing if he performs on the field and stays visible off it. There’s a real shot he could end up the top NIL earner in college sports by the time he leaves Michigan.
He’s already hustling with brands and merch, which is a good sign for his future prospects.
Potential Milestones
What’s next for Underwood? Here are a few things to watch:
- Increased brand partnerships: If his star keeps rising, more brands will want in.
- Enhanced merchandising: Big plays on the field could mean even better merch deals.
- Higher NIL valuation: If he keeps delivering, that $3 million could look small in a year or two.
Conclusion
The Michigan Wolverines just signed Bryce Underwood, and it’s turning heads. A groundbreaking NIL deal helped seal the deal.
This is a big moment for Michigan’s football program. Some folks are saying it could set a whole new bar for NIL agreements across college sports.
Underwood’s career is just getting started, but his NIL valuation already looks poised to skyrocket. Who knows—he might even become the top NIL earner in college sports before long.
If you’re curious and want more details, check out the full article on SI.com.
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