Bryce Underwood carries a $3 million On3 NIL valuation for 2026, his second season as Michigan’s starting quarterback. He arrived on what was reported as the richest recruiting deal in college football history: at least $10 million and as much as $12.5 million over four years, funded through Michigan’s Champions Circle collective with help from Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison. That deal flipped him from LSU, which had offered about $1.5 million a year.
| Reported deal | At least $10 million over four years; $10.5 million in early reports and up to $12.5 million per On3 |
| Who paid | Champions Circle, Michigan’s NIL collective, which publicly thanked Larry Ellison and his wife Jolin, a Michigan graduate |
| LSU’s offer | About $1.5 million a year, less than what Michigan put together |
| Recruiters | Michigan alums Dave Portnoy and Tom Brady were involved in the pitch |
| Brands | An apparel line with Barstool Sports |
| Recruiting rank | The No. 1 quarterback in the 2025 class, from Belleville, Michigan |
How His Value Compares
| Player | School | 2026 On3 valuation |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Smith, WR | Ohio State | $5 million |
| Dante Moore, QB | Oregon | $5 million |
| Bryce Underwood, QB | Michigan | $3 million |
| Julian Sayin, QB | Ohio State | $2.5 million |
Why the Deal Changed Recruiting
Before Underwood, the biggest recruiting packages were in the low seven figures a year. Michigan’s eight figure offer, delivered through a collective and backed by one of the richest people in the world, showed that a single donor could decide where a top recruit went. Underwood started as a true freshman in 2025 and is now the face of the program under new coach Kyle Whittingham.
Deal figures are from Front Office Sports and On3; the valuation is On3’s 2026 figure. NIL valuations are estimates, not salaries.
The Bottom Line
Bryce Underwood signed a reported $10 million to $12.5 million four year NIL deal to flip from LSU to Michigan, backed by Larry Ellison, and carries a $3 million valuation for 2026. See the team picture on Michigan NIL and the national list on highest NIL valuations.