Sherrone Moore on message after USC loss: 'We got to go back to work, that's the reason I got the blue collar jacket on'

Sherrone Moore brought his blue collar jacket with him to Monday’s press conference following Saturday’s loss to USC. The Michigan head coach laid out its symbolism plainly:

“We got to go back to work,” Moore said on Monday. “That’s the reason I got the blue collar jacket on today. It’s we got to go back to work right now. There’s no pouting. There’s no worry about it. There’s no making excuses for it. That’s all we’ve got to do. And that’s all I know. And that’s what we’re going to do right now.”

Sherrone Moore was asked if there is an overall message to his Michigan team after the loss to USC.

“The message, really, is simple. We got to go back to work. That’s the reason I got the blue collar jacket on,” he said. pic.twitter.com/G9lQ6kXwDg

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) October 13, 2025

The Wolverines had won three-straight games before the 31-13 road loss. However, they weren’t able to find their rhythm against the Trojans on either side of the ball. Michigan’s defense gave up nearly 500 yards of total offense, including 224 yards on the ground (6.2 yards per carry). Offensively, the Wolverines finished 2-9 on third downs and scored one touchdown during the first three quarters.

QB Bryce Underwood finished the game completing 15 of his 24 passing attempts for 207 yards including one touchdown and an interception. RB Jordan Marshall was the team’s leading rusher on the afternoon with 14 carries for 68 yards. Justice Haynes, who led the Big Ten in rushing yards coming into the matchup, was held to 51 yards on 10 touches during the Week 7 matchup.

Michigan dropped to 4-2 (2-1, Big Ten) on the season as a result. Now, Moore is urging his team to keep their focus on what’s in front of them.

“I think the message is pretty simple,” Moore said. “The guys understand what happened. They understand it’s a loss, and nobody’s hurt more for a loss than the players and us as coaches.
So those guys, they’ve been in here, they’ve been grinding, trying to get better. They’re trying to fix all the problems and make sure it doesn’t happen again. So the message really is simple.”

The loss dropped Michigan out of the AP Top 25. Now unranked, they’re one of nine teams with one loss in Big Ten play. Coming up, they’ll host Washington in Ann Arbor as they look to get back in the win column. The Huskies are 5-1 this season with their only loss being a 24-6 defeat at home to No. 1 Ohio State.

Kickoff between the Wolverines and Huskies is set for Noon ET. FOX will carry the national broadast.