Sports

Michigan Preparing New NIL Deal To Make 5-Star LSU Commit The Highest-Paid Player In College Football

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Bryce Underwood Michigan NIL $10 Million
University of Michigan Athletics

Michigan is willing to do whatever it takes to land a commitment from five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, who is currently committed to play at LSU. The Wolverines reportedly prepared an NIL package that will make him the highest-paid college football player of all-time.

He is expected to receive an offer worth more than $10 million.

Underwood, the top-ranked prospect in the recruiting Class of 2025, hails from Belleville, Michigan— approximately 20 miles from Ann Arbor. The Tigers received his commitment back in January over offers from 40 other programs that range from Alabama, Ohio State, Miami and Tennessee to Notre Dame, Iowa and Oregon. He was on campus in Baton Rouge for an official visit to LSU over the weekend after showing off his arm talent on Friday night.

However, the flagship university of his home state is not giving up! Former Wolverines staffer Connor Stalions (yes, the sign-stealer) recently joined Underwood’s high school coaching staff for the playoffs and will surely whisper in his ear. Meanwhile, the Champions Circle — the NIL collective associated with the university — is planning to offer him a massive fortune.

Bryce Underwood has some thinking to do!

It was reported last month that Michigan was working on an NIL deal valued at or above $5 million. That number has reportedly doubled.

Underwood laughed at a rumor that he was going to flip from LSU to Michigan for $4 million less than 30 days ago. He committed to play for the Tigers in large part because of offensive coordinator Joe Sloan. His father also said that the program offering the most money won’t necessarily get a commitment because it is more important to get to the league.

Even if all of those things are true, it would be pretty hard for a 17-year-old (who won’t turn 18 until August) to turn down $10.5 million. That’s generational wealth.

Although NIL numbers are not required to be made public, it is widely accepted that Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava received the largest NIL deal of all-time (since 2021) from a singular collective at approximately $8 million. Should Bryce Underwood accept more than $10 million to flip to Michigan, he would be the highest-paid player in college sports— not including endorsement deals, etc.

While the money is enticing, the Wolverines are 5-5 through their first 10 games of the Sherrone Moore era. They have not looked like the powerhouse of late. Maybe that’s because their quarterbacks are not up to the required standard for success. Maybe that’s because Moore is not the right guy to lead the team.

These are things that Underwood will have to consider. Michigan may still fail to land the five-star quarterback in its backyard because money may not matter as much as success. LSU could also increase its offer to help sweeten the deal.

Underwood can either make his final decision during the Early Signing Period in December or wait until National Signing Day in February.