The state of Michigan is entering a new era in Big Ten football - and it's happening on both sides of the rivalry. In a rare twist, both Michigan and Michigan State have introduced new head coaches within weeks of each other, setting the stage for a fresh chapter in one of college football’s most storied battlegrounds.
Michigan State made its move first, naming Pat Fitzgerald as its new head coach on December 1. Then, just this past Friday, Michigan officially welcomed Kyle Whittingham to Ann Arbor. And while the timing of the hires may have been close, the reaction to Michigan's new leader has been loud and overwhelmingly positive - especially from inside the program.
Interim head coach Biff Poggi, who’s been steering the ship through a turbulent stretch, didn’t hold back in his endorsement of Whittingham.
“Michigan Football is in GREAT hands under Kyle Whittingham,” Poggi posted on X. “Proven winner, true gentleman, tough-nosed Michigan coach of days gone by.
Great hire by Warde Manuel. The kids will love him.
Exciting days ahead for Michigan. We have work to do over next five days.
Texas is excellent. Go Blue.”
That’s a strong vote of confidence from a man who’s been in the trenches with this team during one of its most emotionally charged seasons in recent memory.
Poggi, who stepped in after Sherrone Moore’s firing, has been candid about the emotional toll the transition has taken on the players and staff. Speaking to reporters, he acknowledged just how tough the past few weeks have been.
“It has been a tumultuous time,” Poggi said. “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 honesty has become a hallmark of Poggi’s brief but impactful tenure. And as he prepares to lead Michigan into the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against a talented Texas Longhorns squad, his focus remains squarely on the players - not just their performance, but their well-being.
“I don't know that you can prepare for something like this,” Poggi admitted. “It's been complicated.
I want to listen to them. I want to understand what the kids are feeling and what their parents are feeling, and so a lot of listening, and there's been a wide range of emotions, and we are going through those steps.”
Despite the upheaval, Poggi says the team has rallied around each other. Practices and meetings have become something of a refuge - a place where the noise from the outside world fades, and the focus shifts back to football.
“Because when they're inside that rectangle for those hours that we're either in meetings or practicing, it's a bit of a sanctuary,” he said. “And a chance to not think about what is a constant barrage of media questions and things like that.”
That sanctuary will shift to Orlando on New Year’s Eve, where Michigan will take the field at 3 p.m. ET, looking to close out a chaotic season with a statement performance. Regardless of the final score, this game is about more than just football - it’s a moment of resilience for a team that’s been through the wringer and is still standing.
And with Kyle Whittingham now on board, there’s a growing sense that Michigan’s next chapter might be as tough, disciplined, and competitive as the man now leading the charge.