Sherrone Moore firing: Pete Thamel explains roster impact, whether Cheez-It Bowl in jeopardy for Michigan

Following Michigan‘s firing of coach Sherrone Moore, all eyes turn toward what has suddenly become a tumultuous period for the program. The team is slated to play in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31.

But what the team might look like then is anyone’s guess. Could the roster unravel before then?

The good news is a fairly recent change to transfer portal rules could help Michigan keep the roster reasonably intact until it hires a new coach. ESPN insider Pete Thamel explained on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday.

“There’s been a rule change. This is my understanding of it, and these rules have changed a lot,” Thamel said. “But I’m fairly certain now if your coach leaves, you are allowed to enter the portal, I believe the number is five days after a new coach is hired.

“Now obviously the portal itself is going to organically open on Jan. 2. So it was, you’re correct, it was coach leaves, gets fired, whatever it is, it was you could just go free. That shifted this summer. That’s my understanding off the top of my head here to how this unfolds.”

In other words, Bryce Underwood, or any other key players who might be entertaining ideas of heading elsewhere, can’t officially go anywhere right now anyway. Now, if Michigan hires a new head coach in the next few days, that could change.

Thamel doubled down on the rule change. He explained it further.

“It used to be coach leaves, it’s free agency season,” he said. “As we’re in this new era, things are changing. My recollection of the rule is that.”

As to the topic of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl for Michigan, Thamel was asked specifically whether there might be enough roster turmoil to jeopardize the game. He dove into that topic, too.

“Excellent question. Not one I’ve put a ton of thought to to be honest with you,” Thamel said. “If you look at Iowa State and K-State not playing in their bowls, there was a half-million fine. This game’s obviously going to be a ratings monster, so the Big Ten is going to be incentivized to want to participate in it.

“Now, if the roster isn’t available to play, that would certainly be a different conversation. I think it’s so early — we’re not even 24 hours from this happening — that it’s difficult to project. New Year’s Eve, you talk about serendipitous timing, like that’s fascinating with the portal opening essentially 48 hours later.”

Could the timing be such that Michigan is dealing with heavy distractions going into the game? Absolutely. But Thamel isn’t ready to throw the towel in on the game as a whole.

“Look, with these big brand programs your high-end NFL guys aren’t going to play in the bowl anyway, right?” he said.”That’s just the way of the world from Christian McCaffery now, went from an anomaly to the expectation. I think it’s just too early for me to have any kind of feel on that. But I have not heard anything that indicates the roster is shaken to a point where they wouldn’t play in a bowl.”