Some professional athletes wish they could have a piece of this NIL money.
Michigan is offering 2025 No. 1 recruit and LSU quarterback commit Bryce Underwood a $10.5 million NIL, Image and Likeness (NIL) offer over four years to flip his allegiance, according to On3.
LSU boosters remain hopeful Underwood will honor his pledge, per the report.
Underwood, perhaps leaning into the news, posted an image of an LSU player holding a No. 2 pendant to his Instagram Story on Thursday morning.
College recruiting has changed in the NIL era, with all the shady behind-the-scenes deals now being openly discussed.
The “haves” programs like Michigan are able to flex their financial might and sign some of the players in the country simply by throwing money their way.
Underwood is one of those “throw all the money at him” players.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound dual-threat Belleville (Mich.) quarterback seemingly could help elevate either the Wolverines or Tigers back to true national title contenders next season.
He earned MaxPreps’ national Freshman of the Year honors in 2021 and has 69 touchdown passes to five interceptions, along with 10 rushing touchdowns over the last two years, per the website.
Michigan is experiencing a down year under first-year head coach Sherrone Moore after last year’s national title, while LSU has been very good but not elite under Brian Kelly.
Though he hails from Michigan, Underwood officially committed to LSU this January, according to 247.
A verbal commitment is not a signing, though, and Michigan can try to flip Underwood until he officially puts pen to paper next month.
LSU has not revealed its NIL offer, but those involved with the program are optimistic after his official visit to Baton Rouge last weekend for the 42-13 loss to Alabama.
Underwood cited LSU’s history with developing quarterbacks — Heisman winners Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels are recent examples — earlier this year while discussing why he chose LSU.
One juicy element to this recruiting battle former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions, the alleged mastermind of the cheating scandal, is an assistant at Belleville.
“From everything we’ve heard between the LSU side and the Underwood family, it went as well as they could have,” 247’s LSU insider Shea Dixon said, per the report. “There doesn’t seem to be any panic coming from LSU sources as Bryce and his family continue to remain on the same path with the staff relative to his commitment and decision to sign on December 4.
“After the Underwood’s departure, LSU’s sources hold the same confidence across recent weeks as Michigan’s push increased.”
The $10.5 million offer ($2.625 million per year) would rank among the highest in college sports, in line with Colorado star quarterback and potential 2025 No. 1 NFL Draft pick Shedeur Sanders ($6.2 million), influencer and LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne and prodigy quarterback Arch Manning ($3.1 million), per On3.
