From College Park, Maryland, to Berkeley, California, it's a good time to be a true freshman quarterback.
Four true freshman signal-callers took the reins at their respective schools in Week 1: Bryce Underwood at Michigan, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele at California, Malik Washington at Maryland and Bear Bachmeier at BYU. And while their paths to playing time differed -- Underwood, Sagapolutele and Washington were blue-chip top-250 recruits, while Bachmeier was ranked No. 36 in California by ESPN -- their first starts all ended with a victory.
All four Week 1 true freshman starters began the 2025 season 1-0, and we'll be tracking how they do throughout the rest of their debut seasons.
Bryce Underwood
Week 7 summary: Michigan's offense struggled against a USC defense that sacked Underwood and only converted twice in 10 drives. He finished with two touchdowns -- an eight yard pass to Donaven McCulley in the second quarter and 69 yarder to Andrew Marsh. But the Wolverines' two touchdowns wouldn't compare to USC's four in the 31-13 loss.
Week 7 stats: 15-of-24, 207 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Season stats: 92-of-154, 1210 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INT, 3 rushing TDs
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele
Week 7 summary: The Golden Bears had a bye week, but will return to action in Week 8 against North Carolina.
Season stats: 130-of-209, 1487 yards, 9 TDs, 7 INTs, 1 rushing TD
Malik Washington
Week 7 summary: Maryland struggled to find momentum early against Nebraska before getting things going quickly in the second quarter, including Washington helping the Terrapins march downfield to set up a Nolan Ray 28-yard rushing touchdown. The following drive, Washington hit Leon Haughton Jr. with a 21-yard passing touchdown to gain its first lead. However, the Nebraska offense was too much for Maryland in the fourth quarter -- in which it went scoreless -- to seal the 34-31 loss for Maryland.
Week 7 stats: 27-of-37, 249 yards, 1 TD
Season stats: 137-of-220, 1,506 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INT, 3 rushing TD
Bear Bachmeier
Week 7 summary: Bachmeier showed up when it mattered in a Week 7 double-overtime thriller against Arizona. He helped orchestrate two first quarter touchdown drives, one of which was a 75 yarder to Parker Kingston. Trailing by a touchdown in the final seconds of regulation, Bachmeier rushed for a touchdown on the ground with 19 seconds to go, tying the game at 24. But he won the day for BYU with a walk-off rushing touchdown in second overtime to secure the 33-27 victory.
Week 7 stats: 12-of-29, 172 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 2 rushing TD
Season stats: 91-of-144, 1,220 yards, 8 TDs, 3 INTs, 7 rushing TDs