The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster in Ann Arbor-equal parts thrilling and uncertain. On one hand, Michigan fans are riding high with dominant performances in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and hockey.
All three programs are sitting pretty inside the top six nationally. But on the other hand, the football program-usually the centerpiece of the Wolverines’ athletic identity-is in flux, and that’s putting a bit of a cloud over an otherwise electric winter in Michigan sports.
Let’s start with the elephant in the room: Michigan football is still without a head coach, two weeks after parting ways with Sherrone Moore. The search has been active but, so far, fruitless.
Kenny Dillingham and Jeff Brohm are out of the running. Kalen DeBoer?
Doesn’t look like he’s coming to Ann Arbor either.
But this week brought a new name into the conversation-and it’s a compelling one.
Michigan’s Top Priority: Get the Football Hire Right
If there's one thing on every Michigan fan’s holiday wish list, it’s this: find the right football coach. And not just someone to fill the seat, but someone who can stabilize the program and build a winner in the post-Moore era.
The timing matters, but the fit matters more. Rushing into the wrong hire could set the Wolverines back far beyond just the 2026 season.
Enter Todd Monken. The current Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator and former Georgia OC has reportedly emerged as a serious candidate.
Monken’s résumé is solid. He turned a winless Southern Miss team into a nine-win program in just three seasons, earning a C-USA title and Coach of the Year honors.
He’s proven he can build something from the ground up-and do it fast.
Then there’s Kyle Whittingham. The longtime Utah head coach is expected to step away soon, but don’t let the age (66) fool you-he’s still coaching at a high level.
ESPN ranked him as a top-10 head coach heading into 2025, and Utah just wrapped up a 10-win season with a top-15 finish. If Michigan wants a steady hand and a culture-builder, Whittingham fits the bill.
Right now, Monken and Whittingham appear to be the frontrunners. And honestly, either would be a strong hire.
Monken brings offensive pedigree and NFL experience, plus potential connections to build a top-tier staff. There’s even speculation he could retain Wink Martindale or bring in someone from the Ravens' defensive tree, which would be a major win for continuity and scheme.
Most importantly, Monken’s track record with quarterbacks could be a game-changer for Michigan’s top recruit.
Keeping Bryce Underwood in the Fold
Let’s be real: in today’s college football landscape, a coaching change is almost guaranteed to spark some roster churn. Michigan’s already seen a few ripples-two recruits have requested releases from their letters of intent, and quarterback Jadyn Davis has entered the transfer portal.
But the real prize here is five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood. If Michigan can keep him committed, the rest of the dominoes might fall in their favor. Underwood is the kind of program-defining talent that can attract and retain elite playmakers around him-guys like Andrew Marsh and Jordan Marshall, who are also key to the 2026 vision.
Monken, with his QB development background, would be a strong draw for Underwood. The path to salvaging this roster and building a playoff-caliber team starts with keeping the crown jewel of the recruiting class.
Lose Underwood, and you’re looking at a full-scale rebuild. Keep him, and you’ve got the foundation to compete right away.
Basketball is Booming-and Peaking at the Right Time
While the football program sorts itself out, Dusty May’s men’s basketball team is putting on a show. The Wolverines have absolutely steamrolled some of the sport’s biggest names-Auburn, Gonzaga, Villanova, and San Diego State-each by 28 points or more. That’s not just winning, that’s domination.
Coming into the season, expectations were high. But this?
This is another level. Michigan looks like a team that could cut down the nets in April.
The last time that happened? 1989.
That’s 36 years of close calls, heartbreaks, and near-misses-from the Fab Five to the John Beilein-led squads that came up just short.
This group, though, has the look of a champion. The depth, the defense, the offensive firepower-it’s all there.
And while there’s always the concern of peaking too early, this team seems built to sustain its momentum deep into March. The key will be staying healthy, staying hungry, and continuing to play with the edge that’s defined their early-season run.
A Tale of Two Programs-and One Clear Path Forward
So here we are: Michigan’s basketball teams are rolling. The hockey team is surging. The athletic department is thriving on nearly every front-except the one that dominates Saturdays in the fall.
The football program doesn’t need a flashy hire. It needs the right hire.
Someone who can steady the ship, keep the recruiting class intact, and build a long-term winner. Whether it’s Monken, Whittingham, or another candidate still waiting in the wings, the next few weeks will shape the next few years in Ann Arbor.
Get it right, and Michigan could be looking at a golden era across multiple sports. Get it wrong, and the momentum could slip away just as quickly as it arrived.
The clock is ticking. But the opportunity? It’s massive.