Underwood, Washington and more: Tracking the four true freshmen who started the season as QB1

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 5 summary: Underwood and the Wolverines had a bye week.

Season stats: 58-of-102, 733 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 3 rushing TDs

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele

Week 5 summary: Sagapolutele balled out for Cal in Week 5, throwing a 51-yard touchdown late to lift the Golden Bears over the Boston College Eagles. Cal is now 4-1 on the season.

Week 5 stats: 22-of-34, 254 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Season stats: 110-of-174, 1242 yards, 8 TDs, 4 INTs, 1 rushing TD

Malik Washington

Week 5 summary: Washington and the Terrapins had a bye week.

Season stats: 80-of-134, 1,038 yards, 8 TDs, 1 INT, 2 rushing TD

Bear Bachmeier

Week 5 summary: Bachmeier stayed calm under pressure after BYU trailed early to the Colorado Buffaloes. He threw for 179 yards, tossing a pair of touchdowns and helped facilitate a drive that led to wide receiver Cody Hagen‘s 32-yard rushing touchdown to seal the Cougars’ 24-21 victory in Boulder.

Week 5 stats: 19-of-27, 179 yards, 2 TD

Season stats: 61-of-63, 697 yards, 6 TDs, 0 INTs, 4 rushing TDs