Michigan Football Reeling After Moore’s Firing, Interim Coach Biff Poggi Says Players Feel ‘Betrayed’
It’s been anything but business as usual in Ann Arbor. Just weeks away from their Citrus Bowl showdown with Texas, Michigan football is trying to hold it together after the sudden firing and arrest of head coach Sherrone Moore. And according to interim head coach Biff Poggi, the locker room is still trying to process the emotional fallout.
“This has been a tumultuous time,” Poggi said Monday. “A lot of ... first disbelief, then anger, then really, what we’re in right now is the kids, quite frankly, feel very betrayed, and we're trying to work through that.”
That raw honesty speaks volumes. This isn’t just a team navigating a coaching change-it’s a group of players blindsided by the kind of off-field drama that can rattle even the most experienced locker rooms.
Moore was fired last Wednesday and arrested shortly after. He now faces a felony home invasion charge along with two misdemeanors.
The news hit fast, and it hit hard.
Poggi, now tasked with steadying the ship, knows the emotional toll this situation has taken on the players. And it’s not just about Xs and Os anymore-it’s about trust, leadership, and keeping the team mentally locked in as they prepare for a New Year’s Eve bowl game.
This isn’t Poggi’s first time stepping in during a crisis. Earlier this season, he filled in for Moore during wins over Central Michigan and Nebraska while Moore served a suspension tied to NCAA violations stemming from the sign-stealing scandal. So while the circumstances are different now-much heavier, much more personal-Poggi has experience guiding this group through uncertainty.
For Michigan fans wondering about Poggi’s background, he’s no stranger to the program. His first stint in Ann Arbor came in 2016 as an analyst.
He returned in 2021 as associate head coach and eventually left to take the top job at UNC Charlotte. His tenure there was rocky-he went 6-16 over 22 games before being let go midway through his second season.
But Michigan brought him back before the 2025 season, again as associate head coach. Now, he’s the man tasked with leading a team that’s been through the wringer.
And while Poggi’s focus is squarely on getting his players ready for Texas, the university is already looking ahead. The search for Michigan’s next permanent head coach is underway, and the rumor mill is already spinning.
Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer has publicly said he’s not interested in the job, but his name continues to surface. Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham and Washington’s Jedd Fisch are also being mentioned as potential candidates.
But right now, the Wolverines aren’t thinking about who’s next on the sideline. They’re trying to regroup, refocus, and find a way to finish the season strong.
That starts with healing a fractured locker room and restoring some sense of stability. Because for all the noise swirling around the program, there’s still a game to be played.
And for Michigan’s players, that might be the first real step toward moving forward.