Dave Portnoy on Sherrone Moore detainment: 'At Michigan, it's nattys or jail'

A massive bombshell was dropped on the college football world Wednesday night as it was announced that Sherrone Moore had been fired as Michigan‘s head coach. He took over for Jim Harbaugh in 2024 and led the Wolverines to a 16-8 record in the full-time role.

On3 confirmed Wolverines players were abruptly called for a team meeting, where they learned of the news. Michigan AD Warde Manuel then announced the decision was for cause after a university investigation found “credible evidence that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member” in a statement.

Following his firing, Moore was then detained by police in Saline, Mich., according to ESPN’s Dan Wetzel. He was turned over to the Pittsfield Township Police Department for further investigation.

As news of Moore’s detainment broke Wednesday night, Barstool Sports‘ Dave Portnoy joked that once Ohio State finally ended its four-game losing streak to Michigan earlier this season, its head coach ‘not only is fired but arrested.’

I’ll say this. This is the difference between Michigan and Ohio State. We beat Ohio 50 years in a row and they just say gosh shucks we’ll get em next year. They beat us once, coach not only is fired but arrested. At Michigan it’s Nattys or jail.

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) December 11, 2025

“I’ll say this. This is the difference between Michigan and Ohio State,” Portnoy wrote on X/Twitter. “We beat Ohio (State) 50 years in a row and they just say gosh shucks we’ll get em next year. They beat us once, coach not only is fired but arrested. At Michigan it’s Nattys or jail.”

More on Sherrone Moore’s tenure/firing at Michigan

Sherrone Moore arrived at Michigan in 2018 as its tight ends coach and moved up to co-offensive coordinator in 2021. In 2023, he became the sole offensive coordinator on staff and also served as acting head coach while Jim Harbaugh served a suspension from the Big Ten as the result of a sign-stealing scandal. Michigan went 3-0 during that time and won another game while Harbaugh served a separate suspension.

In 2024, Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers, which led Michigan to make Moore the full-time head coach. The Wolverines went 8-5 during his first year at the helm, including a victory over Ohio State in “The Game” and a bowl game victory over Alabama to close out the season.

Moore missed two games this season due to a suspension, which was also part of the sign-stealing investigation into the program. He also received a two-year show cause as the result of the investigation. Biff Poggi served as the acting head coach against Central Michigan and Nebraska, both of which resulted in Michigan victories.

Michigan took a five-game winning streak into the regular-season finale against Ohio State, which could have helped send the Wolverines to the Big Ten Championship, depending on the tiebreakers. The Buckeyes came away with the 27-9 victory in Ann Arbor in what became the most-watched game of the 2025 regular season.

The Wolverines, now with Biff Poggi once again as interim head coach, are currently making preparations for the Citrus Bowl after going 9-3 during the regular season. No. 18 Michigan is set to take on No. 13 Texas on Dec. 31.

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.