As far as Michigan football is concerned, the Bryce Underwood train has come to the end of the tracks.

The consensus No. 1 player in the 2025 class, who plays quarterback just up the road from Ann Arbor at Belleville High School, is expected to remain committed to LSU and has reaffirmed he will play for the Tigers to those close to the situation, a source with intimate knowledge of the situation told the Free Press.

Sources told the Free Press that Michigan had offered a four-year Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal worth nearly $10 million, including win-based and championship-based incentives. Underwood, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound dual threat passer also took to Instagram late Friday night to share a post on his story from @footballfever with a caption that said "the No. 1 overall prospect ... is unlikely to accept Michigan's lucrative NIL offer" less than a week after a visit to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a night game vs. Alabama.

The Belleville standout originally pledged to the Tigers back in January, less than one week before the Wolverines claimed the national championship, and at the time, that was figured to be the end of it before U-M upped the ante.

However by the fall, as the quarterback situations devolved on Michigan's roster — bouncing from Davis Warren, to Alex Orji, to Jack Tuttle and back to Warren — signs began to pop up that the Wolverines were increasing their pursuit of Underwood.

THE PLAYER: 2 plays showed why Bryce Underwood is the nation's top QB recruit

Whether it was outsiders like Barstool owner Dave Portnoy stating he would pay $3 million a year as a booster via an NIL collective for a “top 10 quarterback every year,” the change in approach within the athletic department as the revenue-sharing era arrives at the doorstep, or important U-M figures, such as general manager Sean Magee, showing up at the Belleville vs. Howell regular-season finale, the links between Underwood and the Wolverines became inescapable.

Michigan remained in the mix as NIL valuations reached the $5 million realm and beyond.

It reached such a fervor by the final week of October that the Wolverines’ actively committed four-star quarterback, Carter Smith — who had been pledged since November 2023 — revoked his verbal decision.

I would like to start by thanking the coaching staff at Michigan for everything they have done for me," Smith's post began. "I would especially like to thank Coach Campbell for everything and giving me such an incredible opportunity. With that being said, I would like to announce that I have decommitted from the University of Michigan."

The race was officially on. Underwood visited Ann Arbor for U-M’s 24-17 night game victory over Michigan State in late October, before a recent full-weekend visit with his family to Baton Rouge for a night game vs. Alabama (which LSU lost handily).

THE PLAYER: 2 plays showed why Bryce Underwood is the nation's top QB recruit

Heading into the weekend, a person with knowledge of the recruitment but not permitted to discuss it publicly had the odds and momentum in favor of Michigan. The night prior to Underwood leaving, U-M fans hosted a 'hailgate tailgate' trying to do their part in keeping the local talent home, before the senior led Belleville to a 42-7 win over Saline for a district championship.

Underwood has now completed 113 of 151 passes (74.8%) for 2,095 yards for 29 touchdowns and three interceptions, according to MaxPreps.

Prior to Underwood’s decision, the Wolverines had the No. 11 overall class in the nation with 19 commits, highlighted by five consensus top-100 players: five-star offensive tackle Andrew Babalola (No. 19 overall), four-star defensive back Ivan Taylor (No. 60, son of former Super Bowl winner Ike Taylor), four-star receiver Andrew Marsh (No. 64), four-star tight end Andrew Olesh (No. 76) and four-star defensive back Shamari Earls (No. 87).

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Bryce Underwood recruiting: Michigan football can't flip No. 1 prospect, per source