Michigan hired a winner — literally and figuratively in Kyle Whittingham, with whom the Wolverines reportedly finalized a five-year deal on Friday.
Most importantly, he’s a clean name, with no ties to the Jim Harbaugh regime, who can stabilize the program at a moment of great tumult.
“Someone better tell [Ohio State coach] Ryan Day there’s an actual ball coach at Michigan now,” an SEC assistant coach instructed me.
Whittingham brings greater than 20 years of teaching expertise to one of many largest manufacturers and best-known applications within the sport. After succeeding Urban Meyer — who’s broadly thought to be probably the greatest faculty soccer coaches of all-time — at Utah, Whittingham put collectively a powerful 21-year run as this system’s head coach.
While Whittingham was touring Friday with the Utes to the Las Vegas Bowl, the place Utah performs in opposition to Nebraska on Dec. 31., he’s anticipated to hitch Michigan on the Citrus Bowl, the place the Wolverines will tackle Texas, additionally on New Year’s Eve.
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Last season, Whittingham capped off a 177-88 file in Salt Lake City with a 10-win season and a No. 15 rating. He’s proven he can win on the most important levels the game can provide, too. Alongside two Pac-12 Conference titles and one Mountain West Conference title, he led the Utes to a 2005 Fiesta Bowl win and, within the 2009 Sugar Bowl, a dominant 31-17 win in opposition to Nick Saban’s Alabama to cap an undefeated 2008-09 season.
Whittingham is among the most highly-regarded head coaches within the sport and greater than prepared for the alternatives and challenges the Wolverines face.
“They fell into a perfect hire for their situation,” an business supply instructed me.
Now, at 66, Whittingham will carry that have to a Michigan program in turmoil following the shocking however obligatory determination to fire former Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore. What’s subsequent are the three most vital motion gadgets on an inventory of to-dos for the Wolverines and their new head coach.
1. Retain Michigan QB Bryce Underwood
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This one hasn’t modified since I wrote about Michigan’s to-do list again on Dec. 11. Since Moore’s firing for trigger, Underwood is crucial particular person to retain in the whole Michigan program.
“If he enters the portal, that could put them back further than losing the head coach,” a Big Ten assistant coach instructed me.
As a real freshman, Underwood accounted for greater than 2,500 whole yards, 14 touchdowns and eight giveaways by way of this season. Retaining QB1 in Ann Arbor, no matter who the subsequent head coach is, offers the Wolverines the most effective probability to compete for convention and nationwide championships in 2026.
Along with Underwood, operating again Jordan Marshall, vast receiver Andrew Marsh, cornerback Jyaire Hill and offensive deal with Andrew Sprague loved breakout years for the Wolverines and, as core gamers, are anticipated to be integral to their success in 2026.
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2. Hire a employees that improves the roster instantly
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Michigan is within the midst of a making an attempt time for itself, its followers and its alumni.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel moved swiftly to put in Biff Poggi as interim head coach, and one cause was to offer the crew the most effective probability to remain intact whereas it recognized its subsequent everlasting head coach. Amid the teaching search, the No. 18 Wolverines are additionally making an attempt to complete this season with 10 wins and a victory in opposition to No. 13 Texas within the Citrus Bowl.
“If they get through the bowl game, beat Texas and hire the right guy, it’s the best save they can hope for,” a Big Ten assistant coach lately instructed me.
Since then, Poggi has been candid concerning the dire state of affairs the Wolverines are in simply days earlier than this system’s recreation in opposition to the Longhorns.
“We sent them home for Christmas [Monday], and I think there’s a really good chance that we’re going to have many more opt-outs for the game unfortunately,” Poggi told a current episode of The Stampede, a Texas Longhorns podcast.
“Because we’re in such a state of flux, and when they get to this business of it, they think, ‘We don’t have a coach, we’ve had this situation with our former coach, there’s investigations, all these things. I don’t know who’s going to coach me. Why do I want to play in that game?’ I can see some of that happening.”
Poggi revealed no Michigan gamers at present are in ongoing negotiations for agreements for the upcoming season.
“We’re not able to give anybody a financial agreement because we don’t have a permanent coach,” he stated on The Stampede.
That moratorium might want to come to an finish — quick. The Wolverines must not solely rent a basic supervisor to retain the present roster but additionally to hit the portal onerous when it opens from Jan. 2 to 16.
3. Layer your successful traits excessive of the Wolverines
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The Wolverines rank No. 12 within the 2026 recruiting cycle within the On3 Industry Comparison, a composite of the three main recruiting companies. Players like five-star Savion Hiter, a two-time MaxPreps All-American tail again, are signed to this system.
Moving to rent offensive coordinator at Utah Jason Beck will assist with that. Beck, who joined Utah final 12 months, vastly improved the Utes offense. Utah averaged the second-most factors (41.1) and yards per recreation (478.6) in 2025, and quarterback Devon Dampier threw for 2,867 whole yards, 29 whole touchdowns and three simply 5 interceptions final season.
With Underwood at quarterback, Beck would have a passer in Ann Arbor with a comparable skillset to Dampier however who’s youthful and, arguably, extra proficient.
The offense, although, gained’t be constructed across the quarterback’s skill to throw the ball, however relatively the offense’s skill to run it. Whittingham’s groups have, like Michigan, prided themselves on being dominant within the trenches.
“I can say with confidence we should be the best offensive line since I’ve been at the University of Utah, which has been forever,” Whittingham stated final July at Big 12 Media Days.
In 2025, Utah produced the Outland Trophy winner, awarded to the nation’s greatest inside lineman, in offensive deal with Spencer Fano, who expects to be a first-round choice within the 2026 NFL Draft. Given the sources that might be offered to him at Michigan, there’s no cause to imagine he can not outdo his 2025 offensive line and produce the form of unit upfront that’s able to successful the nationwide title.
RJ Young is a nationwide faculty soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports. Follow him @RJ_Young.
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