Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood throws a pass during the second half against Nebraska on Sept. 20 in Lincoln, Neb. (AP file photo)

ANN ARBOR — Bryce Underwood took a shotgun snap, dropped back, stood tall and delivered a 33-yard pass to Donaven McCulley up the sideline with perfect placement to show a flash of his talent in a win over Wisconsin.

Three snaps later, Michigan’s quarterback looked like the freshman he is.

Underwood rolled left and threw left, losing control of the football as it came out of his right hand and sailing a pass over his target that was nearly picked off by the Badgers.

The 15th-ranked Wolverines are one of several Big Ten teams who are starting quarterbacks in their first or second year of college and are living with good moments and growing pains.

Maryland freshman Malik Washington, Ohio State redshirt freshman Julian Sayin and Minnesota redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey along with sophomores Dylan Raiola of Nebraska and Demond Williams Jr. of Washington are making many more plays than mistakes.

Sayin won the conference’s Freshman of the Week award with top-ranked Ohio State for the second time this week, matching Washington’s total. Underwood and Lindsey have each won the Big Ten’s honor once.

Underwood enrolled last winter as the nation’s top-ranked recruit and intentionally stayed quiet, not wanting to overstep with upperclassmen, before speaking up more often during the spring, summer and this season.

“I think the guys gained a lot of trust in me, to trust in what I see and say,” he said.

Underwood became the fourth freshman to start at quarterback for Michigan (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) and is coming off a season-high 270-yard passing performance with a touchdown throw against the Badgers.

“Just seeing him grow from January to now is crazy,” McCulley said after he had six catches for a season-high 112 yards and a score last week. “He’s becoming more of a vocal leader. He’s always had good poise that is only getting 10 times better.”

Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said the Wolverines are not putting a lot on Underwood’s plate.

“It’s not too much on him right now,” Fickell said. “He’ll grow and grow and grow, but he’s as talented as there is.”

Saying, an Alabama transfer, has completed 80% of his passes for Ohio State (5-0, 2-0) to lead all major college football quarterbacks. He has 13 touchdown passes and only two interceptions, helping him rank among the Big Ten’s highest-rated quarterbacks.

“He’s got a bright future ahead of him,” Buckeyes coach Ryan Day after Sayin was 22 of 28 for 208 yards and two touchdowns in a win at Washington two weeks ago.

Raiola has started all 18 games since he arrived as a freshman last year. After struggling the second half of last season, his numbers have improved through the first five games for the Cornhuskers (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten). He has completed 74.5% of his passes for 266 yards per game with 12 touchdowns against two interceptions.

The biggest knock against Raiola has been his tendency to hold the ball too long, which has exacerbated pass-protection issues. Since the start of last season, Raiola has taken 42 sacks, fifth-most among FBS quarterbacks.

“Ultimately it’s me, so I’ll take that and we’ll learn from it and be better,” he said.

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AP College Football Writer Eric Olson and AP Sports Writers Joe Reedy, Noah Trister and Dave Campbell contributed to this report.

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