Winning a national championship usually buys you a decade of job security and a statue. But for Sherrone Moore, the U of M coach who took the reins after Jim Harbaugh bolted for the Chargers, the honeymoon ended before the rings even arrived in Ann Arbor. It’s a weird spot to be in. Honestly, most fans expected a drop-off, but the reality of 2024 and 2025 has been a bit of a gut check for the Maize and Blue faithful.
Transitioning from a legend isn't just about calling the right plays on third down. It’s about managing a roster in the NIL era while the NCAA is breathing down your neck over scouting scandals that started before you even had the big office. Moore isn't just coaching football; he’s navigating a storm.
The Impossible Act of Following Jim Harbaugh
Jim Harbaugh wasn't just a coach at Michigan; he was a force of nature. When he left, he took more than just his khakis. He took a specific brand of "Michigan Man" intensity that’s hard to replicate. Moore was the hand-picked successor, largely because of how he handled the pressure during Harbaugh’s suspensions in 2023. Remember that Penn State game? No passes in the second half. Just straight-up bullying in the trenches. That’s what Moore is known for. He’s an offensive line guy at heart.
But being the U of M coach means every mistake is magnified by 100,000 people in the Big House. In the post-Harbaugh era, the biggest hurdle hasn't been the scheme, it’s been the roster turnover. You can't lose a first-round quarterback like J.J. McCarthy and expect the offense to hum along without a hitch. It doesn't work that way. Moore inherited a championship culture but a depleted depth chart at the most important position on the field.
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Recruiting in the Shadow of the NCAA
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the Notice of Allegations. You’ve probably seen the headlines. The NCAA investigation into off-campus scouting—the whole Connor Stalions saga—has been a cloud over the program. For a new U of M coach, this is a recruiting nightmare. High school kids want to know if their coach is going to be there in two years or if the program is facing a bowl ban.
Moore has had to play defense off the field while trying to build an elite 2025 and 2026 class. It’s stressful. Despite the noise, he’s managed to keep some blue-chip recruits committed, but the "negative recruiting" from rivals like Ohio State and Oregon is relentless. They tell kids Michigan is a sinking ship. Moore’s job is to prove them wrong by showing that the foundation—that "Smash" identity—is still intact.
The NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) landscape at Michigan has also been a point of contention. For a long time, Michigan was hesitant to lead with "pay-for-play" style offers, preferring a "transformational, not transactional" approach. That sounds great in a brochure. In reality, it makes it hard to land five-star defensive tackles who have six-figure offers from SEC schools. Moore has been vocal about needing the alumni base to step up, and we’re finally seeing the Michigan collective, Champions Circle, get more aggressive.
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Why the "Smash" Identity Is Struggling to Adapt
If you watch Michigan closely, you know the identity is the offensive line. Under Moore’s guidance as the OL coach and later OC, they won back-to-back Joe Moore Awards. But the 2024 season showed some cracks. When you lose veteran leaders like Zak Zinter and Trevor Keegan, you don't just replace that chemistry overnight.
- The Quarterback Conundrum: Transitioning from McCarthy to a carousel of Davis Warren, Alex Orji, and Jack Tuttle was messy. It’s hard to be a "run-first" team when the defense doesn't respect the pass.
- Defensive Continuity: Keeping Wink Martindale as DC was an interesting move. It kept the NFL-style system, but the personnel had to adjust to a different coaching style than Mike Macdonald or Jesse Minter.
- The Schedule: The Big Ten isn't just the Big Ten anymore. With USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington in the mix, there are no "off" weeks. Moore didn't get a "cupcake" transition year.
People forget that Moore is still one of the youngest coaches in the conference. He’s learning on the fly. You see it in the clock management sometimes, or the sequence of play-calling in the red zone. It’s not that he’s "bad"—it’s that he’s competing against guys like Ryan Day and Dan Lanning who have been in the big chair much longer.
What the Critics Get Wrong About Moore
A lot of the national media likes to say Michigan is "dead." That’s a massive oversimplification. Honestly, the program is just resetting. Every great program goes through this. Look at Alabama after Saban or Georgia before Smart really got it rolling.
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Moore’s strength is his relationship with the players. If you talk to guys like Mason Graham or Will Johnson, they’d run through a brick wall for him. That locker room loyalty is why the program didn't completely implode when Harbaugh left. Moore is a phenomenal recruiter in terms of personality; he just needs the wins on the scoreboard to back up the pitch.
The Path Forward for the U of M Coach
So, what does Moore need to do to keep the seat from getting hot? It’s simple but incredibly difficult. First, he has to stabilize the quarterback room. Whether that’s through the portal or developing a young guy like Jadyn Davis, Michigan cannot afford another year of sub-par passing stats. You can't win the Big Ten with a one-dimensional offense in 2026.
Second, he has to win the games he's supposed to win. Losing to Ohio State is one thing—that’s a coin flip every year. Losing to mid-tier Big Ten teams at home is what gets coaches fired.
Actionable Steps for the Program:
- Portal Aggression: Michigan needs to stop being "selective" to a fault. If there’s a Top-5 OT or QB in the portal, they have to go get them, regardless of "culture fit" hurdles.
- Modernize the Passing Game: The "Smash" identity is great, but it needs a modern aerial counter-punch. Moore needs to empower his offensive coordinator to take more shots downfield, even if it feels risky.
- NIL Transparency: Be clear with recruits about what they can earn. The "wait and see" approach is killing their chances with elite wide receivers.
- Staff Stability: Moore needs to keep his core assistants. Constant turnover in the coaching ranks is the fastest way to lose a locker room.
The reality is that being the U of M coach is a high-wire act. Sherrone Moore has the tools, the temperament, and the pedigree. He just needs the time—and perhaps a little bit of luck with the NCAA—to prove that the 2023 championship wasn't the end of an era, but the beginning of a new one. The 2025 season will be the real litmus test for whether his vision can survive the post-Harbaugh vacuum.