Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood might be getting more blame than he deserves. According to a recent CBS Sports analysis, the Wolverines' signal-caller was the second-most-impacted quarterback in the nation by receiver drops last season—a stat that puts his 2025 struggles in a whole new light.

The offseason debate around Underwood has been intense, especially after a rough spring game performance. When compared to true freshman Tommy Carr, many fans have started to worry that Michigan's offense could be in trouble. But while Underwood's season was undeniably inconsistent, the numbers tell a story that goes beyond his own mechanics or decision-making.

Anyone who watched Michigan closely last year saw the issues firsthand. Channing Goodwin was benched in favor of Andrew Marsh after his own inconsistency. Semaj Morgan became a frustration for fans, seemingly dropping at least two passes per game. Underwood wasn't always pinpoint accurate—far from it at times—but even when he delivered the ball on target, his receivers too often failed to come down with it.

CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli recently dove into the "unluckiest" quarterbacks of the season, looking specifically at how drops affected their stats. His deep dive on Texas' Arch Manning showed that even when the Longhorns' star put the ball in the right spot, his receivers let him down. And right behind Manning on that list? Bryce Underwood.

Here's the reality of playing quarterback: you can control the play call, the read, the timing, and the throw. But once that ball leaves your hand, it's up to fate—and your receiver. Underwood made plenty of mistakes, no doubt. But if his receivers had held onto more catchable passes, the narrative around Michigan's offense—and its young quarterback—might look very different today.