Michigan HC Rumors, CFB Insider Provides Update on Latest Candidates
As Michigan's search for a new head football coach to replace the fired Sherrone Moore continues, three names are reportedly on the program's radar.
On Wednesday, ESPN's Pete Thamel appeared on Get Up and discussed the opening. He said Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz, Washington's Jedd Fisch and outgoing Utah coach Kyle Whittingham are all considered "gettable" and candidates in the Wolverines' "crosshairs."
As for Louisville's Jeff Brohm, Thamel reported he was not "in the initial list of candidates that Michigan did talk to."
Thamel also reported he doesn't think the Wolverines will make a hire this week.
That is notable since the transfer portal opens on Jan. 2. It would be ideal for the Big Ten program to have its next coach in place prior to the portal opening so he can work on adding new players to the roster and keeping some from this season's team.
Alabama's Kalen DeBoer was not among the three "gettable" candidates, which wasn't particularly surprising since the Crimson Tide are in the College Football Playoff.
He also released a statement earlier this month that said, "I have not spoken and have no interest in speaking with anyone else about any other job. I am fully committed to this program and look forward to continuing as the head football coach at the University of Alabama."
Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham also signed a new contract with the Sun Devils, suggesting he isn't a realistic candidate for the Wolverines either.
For now, interim coach Biff Poggi is leading the team ahead of its New Year's Eve bowl game against Texas. He has also interviewed for the position, and he will have an opportunity to defeat a high-profile SEC team in the postseason.
Whoever Michigan hires will have his work cut out for him.
Poggi told reporters up to 25 players may not return to the team from Christmas break, and some could enter the transfer portal with Moore no longer running the program after he was surely involved in many of their recruitments.
Drinkwitz's Tigers teams won double-digit games in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024, Fisch led the Huskies to a 9-4 record this season after leading Arizona to 10 wins in 2023, and Whittingham has been the head coach of Utah since 2004 with a 177-88 record.
They are three notable candidates who could get the Wolverines back on track, but the program is running out of time before the transfer portal opens.
