The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1536962
10 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2025 FOOTBALL PREVIEW MICHIGAN FOOTBALL 1-0 Michigan's record against Ohio State at Ohio Stadium under Moore's leadership, a 13-10 win last fall by the unranked Wolverines against the then-No. 2 and eventual national champion Buckeyes. U-M has only won twice (2022 and 2024) in its last 11 tries in Columbus, Ohio, since a 38-26 win in "The Horseshoe" in 2000. 1 Team in the history of college football has ever beaten the blue blood trio of USC, Ohio State and Alabama in the same sea- son — Michigan in 2024. Moore's first squad beat USC, 27-24, Sept. 21 at Michigan Stadium, upset No. 2 Ohio State, 13-10, Nov. 30 in Columbus, Ohio, and took down No. 11 Alabama, 19-13, in the ReliaQuest Bowl Dec. 31 in Tampa, Fla. 2 Consecutive Joe Moore Awards won by his units as the top of- fensive line in college football in 2021 and '22, becoming the first program to earn back-to-back honors. 2 Other career stops before coming to Michigan as an assistant coach in 2018. At Central Michigan, he was assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach in 2017, and tight ends coach from 2014-16. Previously at Louisville, he coached tight ends in 2012 and '13 and began his coaching career as an offensive graduate assistant from 2009-11. 3 Straight 1,000-yard seasons for U-M running backs while Moore was offensive coordi- nator. Hassan Haskins had 1,327 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns in 2021, Blake Co- rum went for 1,463 yards and 18 TDs in 2022 and followed that season up with 1,245 and 27 in 2023. In 2024, Moore's first year as a head coach, Kalel Mullings finished just shy of the century mark with 948 yards and 12 TDs. 7 Of Moore's U-M players were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, including a school-record- tying three first-rounders in defensive tackle Mason Gra- ham (No. 5 overall, Cleveland Browns), tight end Colston Loveland (No. 10, Chicago Bears) and defensive tackle Kenneth Grant (No. 13, Mi- ami Dolphins). The other four selections were cor- nerback Will Johnson (sec- ond round, No. 47, Arizona Cardinals), edge Josaiah Stewart (third round, No. 90, Los Angeles Rams), running back Kalel Mull- ings (sixth round, No. 188, Tennessee Ti- tans) and offensive tackle Myles Hinton (sixth round, No. 191, Philadelphia Eagles). 9 Moore's official career win total as Michigan head coach: 1-0 as acting head coach in 2023 and 8-5 in his first full season at the helm in 2024. Michigan actually went 4-0 with Moore as acting head coach in 2023 (while Jim Harbaugh was serving suspensions) notching victories against Bowling Green (31-6), at Penn State (24-15), at Mary- land (31-24) and versus Ohio State (30-24). The school credited the latter three wins to Harbaugh's record since he was serving a Big Ten suspen- sion, not an NCAA suspension at the time. 21st Head coach in Michigan football history. He was ap- pointed to the role on Jan. 26, 2024, after six years on the Wolverines' staff. He coached tight ends from 2018-20, offensive line from 2021-23 and also served as co-offensive coordinator in 2021- 22 and offensive coordinator during the 2023 national championship season. Moore also is the first Black head coach in the 145-year history of Michigan football. 32 Consecutive rushing plays called by Moore from the middle of the second quarter to close out the game (including all 30 plays in the sec- ond half) in the 24-15 win at Penn State on Nov. 11, 2023. Is it any wonder Moore is known for his "Smash!" mantra and mindset of toughness carried over from his offensive line-coaching days? 38.4 Michigan's scoring aver- age during Moore's three years as offensive coordinator (2021- 23), which ranked in the top 15 nationally each year. The Wolver- ines also averaged 207.5 rushing yards and were twice a top-15 rushing-yardage team, while ranking first or second in team rushing touchdowns in all three seasons. — Mark Panus SHERRONE MOORE BY THE NUMBERS In his first season at the helm, Moore led Michigan to an 8-5 record, including three straight wins — Northwestern, Ohio State and Alabama — to close out the season. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL