Don’t blink. Seriously. Because just when you thought Michigan football finally locked in the golden ticket at QB after going 8-5 without a real QB, things got weird. Not ‘haha’ weird. More like ‘oh damn, this might be a problem’ weird. It started like a dream—a broke-boy offense gets blessed with a 5-star savior. Bryce Underwood, the nation’s top quarterback, walks into Ann Arbor with a bag ($12M NIL bag, to be specific) and a whole lot of expectations. The hype? Loud. The praise? Louder. But behind that noise? Sherrone Moore’s lowkey $1.2M backup plan is looking funny in the light.

Let’s start with the good part, though—the Underwood Effect. He ain’t just got juice; he got the whole damn smoothie bar. On April 11th, Michigan WR Semaj Morgan gave reporters a straight-up TED Talk when asked about Bryce’s accuracy. “I already knew what I was getting when he came here,” Morgan said. “His accuracy is—yeah, it’s on point for sure. Like, they wasn’t lying.” Then came the comparison that had folks double-taking: Jayden Daniels-level accuracy. “JD2—his accuracy on point too. They both be making some unreal throws in practice. They make some crazy throws.”

And let’s not pretend like Semaj is alone in this praise parade. Defensive lineman Kenneth Grant basically hit copy-paste, saying Bryce has been “turning heads with some crazy throws.” Even OC Chip Lindsey gave the nod, calling Underwood “all business” and a “silent killer on the field.” Word on the street? Some scouts even whispered the unthinkable: Cam Newton and Vince Young vibes. Translation—Bryce got that sauce.

But here’s where it gets spicy. All that shine around Bryce was supposed to get some support—a fat $1.2 million support system to be exact. That’s what Michigan planned to invest in: a bulldozer of a left tackle, Jackson Cantwell. The No. 1 overall player in the 2026 class. Built like a Marvel villain. The type of lineman you secure if you want to keep your shiny new QB breathing. But now? That plan’s unraveling like some old Jordans in the rain.

Moore’s $1.2M blueprint for Bryce Underwood collapses

Jackson Cantwell was supposed to be the next domino. A massive get to protect the $12M franchise quarterback. He visited twice since December, and he’s supposed to visit again next month. But according to insiders, the top list is looking like Georgia, Miami, and Oregon. And Michigan? Seems like they’re waiting for a shot that might not come. All that talk, all the flights, all those NIL whispers—and yet, the needle’s moving in the wrong direction.

This isn’t just a whiff. It’s a gut punch. Jackson Cantwell was the cherry on top of Sherrone Moore’s offensive vision—protect Bryce, load up on wideouts, and let the big dawg cook. But now the centerpiece of that master plan is ghosting Michigan. That $1.2M NIL man plan? Might as well have lit it on fire.

Sherrone Moore’s whole spring strategy has been clear as day: Build around Bryce. Every big visit, every pitch, every tweet—it’s been offense, offense, offense. Michigan’s already shot their shot with 50 wide receivers for 2026. That’s not a typo—fifty. But while they’re good at talking, they aren’t closing. Three commits total. That’s it. Not exactly the Avengers lineup you want around your $12M QB.

And Michigan isn’t out of the Cantwell race completely. He’s still scheduled to visit. But the buzz? It’s fading. According to reports, Georgia, Miami, and Oregon got the real juice. Michigan’s hanging on, but unless they come in hot with an even fatter bag, it might be a wrap. That’s not just bad news—it’s a full-on offensive crisis.

The worst part? Without a cornerstone left tackle like Cantwell, Bryce might end up doing cardio for no reason—running for his life instead of running up the scoreboard. The fanbase might still be high off that Ohio State win, but this is the moment where reality creeps in. The heist of the year with Bryce? Yeah, it’s only worth it if you protect the bag. In short: Michigan got the quarterback, but if Sherrone Moore doesn’t secure the castle walls, that $12M king might be playing chess with no pawns.