It's been a tricky yr for the defending national champions, but on Thursday the Wolverines got some great news: the nation's No. 1 recruit, quarterback Bryce Underwood – an athletic 17-year-old who stands 6-foot-10 and weighs 205 kilos – announced he would transfer his commitment from LSU to Michigan.

After being committed to the Tigers for nearly a yr, the move sent shockwaves throughout the school football recruiting world. However, football legend and Michigan alum Tom Brady might need seen it coming.

An enormous a part of Underwood's promise to the Wolverines, based on a program source, was Brady participating in multiple Zoom meetings with Underwood and becoming an ideal resource for the young quarterback.

Underwood grew up a Michigan fan and is from Belleville, Michigan, just 20 minutes outside of Ann Arbor. Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore preaches and recruits by the motto, “The best players in Michigan, go to Michigan.”

But former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh didn't seem particularly desirous about pursuing Underwood, as other top programs have. Not long after Harbaugh took the highest job with the Los Angeles Chargers in January, Sean Magee returned to Ann Arbor to turn into Michigan's general manager after working within the Chicago Bears' front office.

And Magee and Moore placed great emphasis on Underwood.

Yes, sir! The best players in Michigan, go to Michigan!! #ProcessOverPrize25 #GoBlue

– Sherrone Moore (@Coach_SMoore) November 20, 2024

The two worked for months to repair their relationship with the star QB. Things kicked into high gear this week as Underwood spent two days at Michigan and felt very comfortable with the direction this system is now headed.

The Wolverines, lower than a yr faraway from a national championship, are currently 5-5 and out of playoff contention.

“Everyone assumes we’re just handing this kid an eight-figure sum, but that’s not true,” the source said.

pic.twitter.com/owaL5uEIfP

– Bryce Jay Underwood (@BryceUnderwoo16) November 22, 2024

Now that the Wolverines have their QB of the longer term, they’ll expect to make lots more noise on the recruiting front with the early signing deadline lower than two weeks away.

Required reading

STANFORD – Sophomore NiJaree Canady cemented her status as one of the best pitcher in college softball by staving off the specter of elimination for a second straight shutout to steer No. 8 Stanford back to the Women's College World Series.

Canady allowed three hits and a walk in six innings, and Stanford broke through with seven runs within the fifth inning to beat No. 9 LSU 8-0 in six innings on Sunday within the deciding game of the best-of-three Stanford Super Regional at Smith Family Stadium.

The Cardinal (48-14) will face league leaders Texas on Thursday at 4 p.m. in Oklahoma City.

This shall be Stanford's fourth WCWS appearance. The team reached the national semifinals last season behind Canada and in addition competed in 2001 and 2004 when coach Jessica Allister was the Cardinals' starting catcher.

Senior Caelen Koch had two doubles and an RBI single against LSU starter Sydney Berzon, and freshman Jade Berry hit a three-run homer on reliever Raelin Chaffin's first pitch.

Kaitlyn Lim finished the sport with a leadoff home run within the sixth inning.

Canady, who leads the NCAA with a 0.67 ERA, allowed a career-low six runs in 4 innings within the series opener against the Tigers (44-17) on Friday night, but she responded with a two-hitter in Stanford's 3-0 win on Saturday and allowed just five baserunners on Sunday.

The Tigers had all bases loaded with one out within the fifth inning, but left fielder Kyra Chen caught a fly ball and threw out an LSU runner coming from third base, ending the inning.

The Cardinal exploded within the second half of the inning.

River Mahler began with a triple and grounded out to provide Stanford the lead. The Cardinals had two runners retired at bat on this inning, but RBI singles from Ava Gall, Aly Kaneshiro and Koch prolonged the lead.

That was good enough support for Canada, which improved to 23-5 and can now prepare to face the country's No. 1 on Thursday.