Notes, quotes and observations — time to turn the page

By Chris Balas

And with that 41-27 Michigan loss to Texas in a meaningless bowl game, the Sherrone Moore era has come to a merciful end. 

Give the Wolverines credit for playing hard, but even with Texas’ 9 or so opt-outs (to Michigan’s 3), the Longhorns were too much for a mid-talent U-M team that played in the second half like it had much of the year. There was a plethora of mistakes, including three bad picks from true freshman Bryce Underwood, critical missed tackles at inopportune times, and a makeshift offensive line that struggled with largely backups in the Texas defense. 

If you’re a fan, of course, any time Michigan takes the field, you’d like to see the Wolverines win. At the same time, this one felt like the 2010 Gator Bowl when the outcome might not have been inevitable going in, but regime change was … and you couldn’t wait to get started. Like then, you hoped the seniors and veterans would play well, maybe get one more victory on the resume. 

Most, though, already had plenty of great memories to look back on, including a national title and at least a couple Big Ten championships. We’re only two years removed from the program being the best in the country, and whereas we wondered if we’d ever see it again after years in the wilderness, it happened. 

If we’re being honest, Moore was always a stretch to keep it going, especially when Jim Harbaugh took most of his staff with him. Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait as long as we expected to rip off the band-aid, and now it’s up to coach Kyle Whittingham to bring the pride back after it became a laughingstock under Moore. 

“This is a program that won 9 games this year and played a lot of really good teams in the Big Ten,” interim coach Biff Poggi said. “But we played two SEC teams that are pretty good, Oklahoma and Texas, and I thought the kids competed so hard today. They played so hard.

“This isn’t a rebuild at all. That would be shortchanging the kids and where they are, and I think Coach Whittingham is going to do a fantastic job here. He’s going to have a lot of really good players back. He’s obviously going to bring players in [too], and again, he’s a guy that’s won 180 games. He’s been a head coach 20 years and he’s won 3 conference championships, one in the WAC and 2 in the Big 12. So, I think he’s going to find a very full cupboard …”

That’s where we might disagree, especially given the program’s objectives as a blue blood. Michigan went to three straight playoffs back when it was a 4-team setup, winning the title in 2023, and there was talent and depth all over the field. We’ll never forget when Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck game his team a pass for a 50 to something home drubbing, calling it ”almost unfair” given how much talent the Wolverines had. 

This team … well, wasn’t that. It’s clear Moore and Co. overestimated their talent at Michigan, especially defensively up front early in the year. The interior line had some nice moments, but more often than not got gashed. 

But they did go down swinging, which was good to see. Many expected them to roll over, wondered how they might score, but for a third time this year, the offense looked better with one less cook in the kitchen. We’ll watch many of these Wolverines leave with fond memories of what they accomplished here.

“A bunch of willing, really willing, kids that are just great kids,” Poggi said. “People talk about Michigan and what it means to be a Michigan man. I have a son that’s a Michigan man. I’m not a Michigan man. I didn’t go there, but, but these kids that are here are the definition of that and I think [Whittingham] is going to love that.”

Observations following a 41-27 loss to Texas

• As for the coaches, though — out with the old, in with the new. As we reported this morning, Whittingham made a lot of progress putting his first Michigan staff together. He told the ABC broadcasting crew he had “90 percent” of his staff ready to go, just waiting for some signatures, and we have a good idea who the coordinators are, the offensive line coach, and of course running backs coach Tony Alford. 

We also think special teams coach Kerry Coombs could stay. Frosh Andrew Marsh was one of the bright spots there today with some nice kick returns, but the Wolverines will need a punter and a kicker. We have no idea what happened to Dominic Zvada this year, but he missed yet another one wide right before the half that would have given Michigan a  boost. 

• Michigan actually held a 27-24 lead in the fourth quarter, and if not for a missed tackle on a fourth-down play for Texas on its own side of the field, might have been able to grab control with about 10 minutes remaining. 

But like the Oklahoma game, when safety Brandyn Hillman let John Mateer out of a sure sack that changed the game, Arch Manning slipped away from a young defensive back for a key first down. The floodgates opened from there, and Manning was — by far — the best quarterback on the field, as he should be given his experience level. 

“That’s a great question because [Texas coach] Steve Sarkisian said this is your year 3 for Arch, and again remember, this is year 1 for Bryce,” Poggi said. “Arch is an exceptional player. He made some throws today that I thought were like, ‘wow.’

“And then, of course, I had no idea he was [so agile] … you look at him on the field, he’s big and strong, but I had no idea he was as athletic as he is. He is a force to be reckoned with.”

But we liked the way the Michigan coaches used Underwood early. They designed some runs for him, some short throws … still, he finished with three bad interceptions and never looked comfortable (in part, again, due to a leaky line missing many starters. Brady Norton was overmatched at right guard, and Kaden Strayhorn shouldn’t be playing, but was in when Greg Crippen went down). 

More than anything, Whittingham needs to get him a dedicated quarterbacks coach. As one astute ‘X’ poster and Michigan alum noted, his footwork should be much better at this point in his career. On a positive note, he’ll have that if he sticks around, as planned. 

This looks more like a pick-off move to 3rd base.
😞 pic.twitter.com/oeiLmIcNr4

— Due# (@JDue51) December 31, 2025

“He’s a wonderful kid with a huge upside, and he’s a true freshman starting in an elite conference, playing in a bowl game against an SEC football team that was ranked number one [preseason],” Poggi said. “I thought he had a great game. He just made a few bad decisions at the end, but he’ll learn. All these things are learning things for him, and so much of playing quarterback is experiential. You have to experience it. And he’s a competitor.

“He’d probably like a couple of those throws back and is probably a little down right now, but I think the best thing would be for him is to get back to work as quickly as possible and for people to remember he’s just a freshman.”