NCAAF teams
ESPN staff 17d

Tracking the four true freshmen who started the season as QB1

NCAA Football, Michigan Wolverines, BYU Cougars, Maryland Terrapins, California Golden Bears

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 although their paths to playing time differed -- Underwood, Sagapolutele and Washington were blue-chip top-250 recruits, whereas 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 11 summary: Underwood and Michigan had a bye week.

Season stats: 134-of-220, 1,671 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs, 4 rushing TDs


Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele

Week 11 summary: Sagapolutele balled out in the Golden Bears' 29-26 OT win over No. 15 Louisville, throwing for 323 yards and getting his team in position for the winning field goal. It's the first time he has thrown for more than 300 yards this season.

Week 11 stats: 30-of-47, 323 yards, 2 TDs

Season stats: 194-of-317, 2,518 yards, 13 TDs, 7 INTs, 2 rushing TDs


Malik Washington

Week 11 summary: Washington couldn't get things going in the air in a 35-20 loss to Rutgers, although he did pass for a touchdown and score one on the ground. It's the first time in his career he has been held under 200 yards passing.

Week 11 stats: 15-of-28, 98 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 rushing TD

Season stats: 191-of-327, 2,056 yards, 13 TDs, 6 INTs, 4 rushing TDs


Bear Bachmeier

Week 11 summary: Bachmeier and BYU ran up against a Texas Tech team that shut them down in a 29-7 loss. He did throw for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but it was too late for the Cougars by then.

Week 11 stats: 23-of-38, 188 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Season stats: 149-of-239, 1,881 yards, 12 TDs, 4 INTs, 9 rushing TDs

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