PALMER: Could an Underwood reunion be possible?

By Hunt Palmer

Lane Kiffin needs quarterbacks.

One may come available in Ann Arbor. He’s talented, experienced and likes a lot about LSU. He also slugged LSU’s fan base with a sack of Oracle cash a year ago.

Is Bryce Underwood welcome in purple and gold?

It’s a complicated question and one that truly doesn’t need answering in early December. Underwood is not in the transfer portal and has shown no indications he’s headed that way. However, his coach has been fired, and Michigan football is in some serious turmoil for the second time in three years.

No Wolverine entering the portal would come as much of a surprise.

The Underwood situation is layered. The first layer is money. It’s clear that the former five-star flipped from LSU, where he had been committed for over a year, to Michigan because of a gargantuan NIL deal fronted by Oracle Co-Founder and CTO Larry Ellison whose Wolverine wife wanted a quarterback. He’s worth nearly $400 billion, so he bought one.

When that contract was signed, there were no guard rails in place. There are now, so Underwood would have to leave that money on the table to transfer out. He could earn NIL dollars at the next stop, but they’d have to be approved by the clearinghouse. That’s an obstacle.

Then come the ties to LSU. Underwood was recruited heavily by offensive coordinator Joe Sloan who is now at Kentucky after being fired from LSU. Kiffin and Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. are now running the show in Baton Rouge. How much does that change the equation? I’d imagine plenty.

Then comes the performance. As a prospect, Underwood was as elite as they come. As a portal quarterback, he’s statistically underwhelming.

Underwood completed 61.1 percent of his throws for 2.229 yards, 9 TD, 6INT.

Comparatively, Carson Beck had thrown for 3,485 yards and 28 TDs last year before he left Georgia for Miami. John Mateer had thrown for 3,139 and 29 scores at Washington State the year before bolting for Norman. Cam Ward about equaled that at Wazzou pre-Miami.

These guys are available every year, and Underwood’s production doesn’t match up. Now, he was just a true freshman, and Sherrone Moore’s offense was atrocious prior to Underwoods arrival, so there’s context to the statistics.

That said, the five-star moniker fades once the task goes from “acquiring a premium talent to bring into the program” to “finding a 2026 starter at quarterback”.

There’s a balance between talent, production and eligibility remaining that makes every option different.

The final layer is the damage done to Underwood’s place in the eyes of LSU fans. That flip was the most public and heartbreaking of just about any I can recall in my time following recruiting.

I also think it can be forgotten with three touchdowns in a win over Clemson. Tiger fans seemed to enjoy Aaron Anderson’s game-tying touchdown over Ole Miss in 2024, and he spurned the home state school for a hated rival exiting high school.

Ultimately, the available options will determine where LSU shops for signal callers (yes, multiple) in this portal window. If Underwood pops into the portal, of course he’ll be considered.

Considering the depth chart, new offensive brain trust and NIL programs in place at LSU, quarterbacks should be beating down Kiffin’s door in January.

If Underwood is one of them, what an emotional swing that would be in Baton Rouge.

That’s modern college football.