The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JANUARY 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 17 PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL I think our guys are vulnerable, knowing that the guy at their posi- tion group is really, really good, and he's capable of doing the job that he's done at the same level. With that comes a mutual respect that, if I don't have my best stuff, I trust that you're going to come in and get the job done, because we're not always going to be at our best. It's been really special, because there hasn't been a competi - tion amongst each other. Now, they're always competing, and you're fighting for minutes and whatnot. But I think there's just such a level of respect for each other, that they know what they bring to the table." — Head coach DUSTY MAY We all knew they would be good. We knew Dusty May is one of the better coaches in college basketball. But I'm impressed with how they bought in so quickly, how they jelled so fast together. You look at Michigan right now, it's as if this team has been playing together for three or four years and they all came into Michigan together, the way they get along, the way they've bonded together, the way they do their postgame inter- views all in the huddle, cheering each other on. This is big time, because when you have such a new team, you're finding roles, guys are trying to develop into who they're trying to be. Those guys could've come into Michigan and played selfish basketball and said, 'This is my time to shine.' But when you have seven, eight, nine guys buying in, including the best players on their team, it makes for a special season." — Big Ten Network analyst Rapheal Davis on Michigan basketball He is an outstanding leader, he is beloved by the locker room, he has the trust of the locker room and his staff, and he's been there through all the ups and downs of these negative situations. So, having Biff there is beneficial." — Former Michigan All-American tight end and Big Ten Network analyst Jake Butt on interim head coach Biff Poggi 18.4 Million Average viewers for Michigan's 27-9 loss to Ohio State in THE GAME Nov. 29, the most-watched regular-season col- lege football game on any network this season and second-most watched regu- lar-season college football game ever on FOX. The audience peaked at 20,535,000 viewers, and the overall number was up 49 percent from last year's rendition of the rivalry, a 13-10 Wolverine win. 1927-28 Is the last time a Michigan head foot- ball coach lasted only two seasons — Tad Wieman — before Sherrone Moore was fired following the 2025 regular season. Wieman posted a 9-6-1 record over 16 games. 27 Point average margin of victory for U-M men's basketball during its 10-0 start this season. The Wolverines won seven of those games by at least 25 points. 18th In the College Football Play- off rankings following con- ference championship weekend is where Michigan was slotted. The Wolverines were the fifth-highest ranked Big Ten team, behind No. 1 Indiana, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 5 Oregon and No. 16 South- ern California. 17-8 Record for former Michi- gan head coach Sherrone Moore during his stint as full-time head coach. The Wolverines went 8-5 in 2024 and 9-3 during the 2025 regular season, before the 39-year-old's dismissal. Moore was also credited with one win as interim head coach in 2023 (Bowling Green), and his .692 winning percentage is the 11th-best among U-M head coaches in history with 10 or more games. 6 Head coaches have taken over the Michi- gan football program since Bo Schem- bechler retired following the 1989 sea- son. Here are the lengths of their tenures: • Gary Moeller (1990-94) — 5 years • Lloyd Carr (1995-2007) — 13 years • Rich Rodriguez (2008-10) — 3 years • Brady Hoke (2011-14) — 4 years • Jim Harbaugh (2015-23) — 9 years • Sherrone Moore (2024-25) — 2 years The Michigan job is an elite job. It attracts a lot of attention. Now, I think that about the Michigan job. I think enough candidates think that about the Michigan job. We're about to find out." — College sports personality Josh Pate You put Kenny Dillingham at Michi- gan with a young Bryce Under- wood, I think Michigan would be on track to have one of the best offenses in college football." — Rivals analyst Steve Wiltfong on Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL