Sherrone Moore’s Michigan Tenure: Balancing Patience with Expectations in Ann Arbor
When Sherrone Moore took over as head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, he stepped into one of the toughest gigs in college football - replacing Jim Harbaugh fresh off a national championship. That’s not just filling big shoes; that’s stepping into a legacy that had reached its pinnacle. And while Moore has kept the ship steady, the question now is whether “steady” is enough for a program that’s grown used to chasing - and catching - greatness.
The Record So Far: Solid, But Under the Microscope
Moore’s overall head coaching record stands at 16-8, with an 8-5 mark in his first full season (2024) and a 9-3 regular season in 2025. On paper, that’s respectable.
But in Ann Arbor, where expectations now include Big Ten titles and playoff runs, respectable doesn’t always cut it. The bar has been raised - not just to win, but to win big, and win often.
Why Moore Still Has a Strong Case
Let’s start with the reasons to stay the course.
1. He Knows the Program Inside and Out
Moore isn’t just a guy who got promoted. He’s a Michigan man through and through - someone who helped build the very foundation he’s now trying to maintain.
As offensive line coach and coordinator, he was a key architect of the Wolverines’ dominant run game, guiding a unit that won back-to-back Joe Moore Awards in 2021 and 2022. His fingerprints are all over the Harbaugh-era success, and that continuity matters.
2. He’s Proven He Can Lead in Pressure Moments
Let’s not forget: Moore went 4-0 as acting head coach during the 2023 national title season, including clutch wins over Penn State and Ohio State. That wasn’t just keeping the seat warm - that was stepping up in the biggest moments and delivering. And in 2024, he did it again, upsetting Ohio State in a game that restored a lot of faith in his leadership.
3. Recruiting Wins Are Starting to Stack Up
The flip of five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood was a major recruiting coup - a signal that Moore can still attract elite talent to Ann Arbor. In today’s college football landscape, where recruiting and the transfer portal can swing a program’s fortunes overnight, that matters. Letting Moore go now could risk a domino effect of decommitments and transfers, potentially setting the program back years.
4. He Inherited a Storm, Not a Dynasty
It’s easy to look at the national title and assume Moore walked into a dream scenario. But the reality was far more chaotic.
Key staff departures, including star quarterback J.J. McCarthy and several defensive coaches, left major holes.
On top of that, Moore had to navigate the fallout from an NCAA investigation and served a two-game suspension in 2025 tied to the sign-stealing scandal. That’s not a smooth transition - that’s damage control.
The Other Side: Why the Heat Is Rising
But let’s be clear - the pressure is real, and it’s not coming out of nowhere.
1. Struggles in the Spotlight
The 2025 regular season featured three marquee matchups - Oklahoma, USC, and Ohio State - and Michigan came up short in all of them. Not just losses, but lopsided ones, including a 41-20 drubbing at the hands of the Buckeyes. In games where the Wolverines needed to show they belonged in the national conversation, they looked outmatched.
2. Offensive Identity Crisis
One of the biggest knocks on Moore’s tenure so far has been the offense. Despite having a blue-chip talent like Bryce Underwood under center, the scheme has felt outdated and predictable.
Creativity has been lacking, and efficiency has suffered. For a program with Michigan’s resources and talent, that’s a red flag.
The offense hasn’t evolved - and in the modern college game, that’s a recipe for falling behind fast.
3. Is Moore Just a Placeholder?
There’s a growing concern that Moore might be more of a caretaker than a catalyst - someone who’s good enough to keep things from falling apart, but not the coach to take Michigan to the next level. That’s a tough label to shake, especially when the program is still stacked with talent and the expectations are sky-high.
The Verdict: Stay the Course, But Demand More
So, should Michigan pull the plug now? Not yet.
Yes, the 2025 season exposed some serious flaws - particularly in big-game readiness and offensive innovation. But firing a coach with a winning record, a marquee win over Ohio State, and strong ties to both the program and its future recruits would be a risky move. Especially when you factor in the instability he inherited and the $5 million buyout that would come with an early exit.
The smarter path? Give Moore a third full season - but with clear expectations.
That means reevaluating the offensive staff, modernizing the playbook, and showing tangible growth in high-stakes matchups. The leash will be shorter, no doubt.
But with the Big Ten expanding and the College Football Playoff field growing, there’s still time for Moore to turn a solid foundation into something more.
In the end, Michigan doesn’t need to panic. But it does need to push. Moore has earned one more chance - now it’s up to him to prove he can elevate the Wolverines back to the mountaintop.