Sherrone Moore succeeded Jim Harbaugh with the Michigan Wolverines after the former head coach accepted the same position with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Moore and the Wolverines finished 8-5 after beating No. 11 Alabama, 19-13, in the ReliaQuest Bowl. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg gave out grades for various first-year head coaches in college football on Wednesday, and he gave Moore a B- after one year in charge of the Wolverines.
Michigan started the season 4-1, losing to then No. 3 Texas and beating No. 11 USC. But that was followed by four losses in five games. The Wolverines then finished the season with a three-game win streak, highlighted by a huge 13-10 upset at archrival Ohio State to end the regular season.
Rittenberg was impressed with how Moore did considering the difference in talent level at Michigan from 2023 to 2024.
Michigan split its first 10 games and went 0-3 on the road,” Rittenberg said. “Moore delivered down the stretch, though, as Michigan clobbered Northwestern and then stunned Ohio State in Columbus as a three-touchdown underdog. … Moore then guided a vastly undermanned Wolverines team over Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl, regaining the momentum lost during the first two-plus months of the season.”
Michigan lost talent such as quarterback JJ McCarthy, running back Blake Corum, safety Mike Sainristil, defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and linebacker Junior Colson to the 2024 NFL Draft.
Safety Keon Sabb (Alabama), receiver Darrius Clemons (Oregon State) and linebacker Semaj Bridgeman (Michigan State) were key losses for Michigan via the transfer portal following the 2023 season.
Moore achieved eight wins despite having inconsistencies at the quarterback position. Alex Orji, Davis Warren and Indiana transfer Jack Tuttle all saw time at quarterback this season.
Orji played in 11 games and recorded 150 passing yards, 269 rushing yards, three total touchdowns and two interceptions. Warren threw for 1,199 passing yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions in nine games. Tuttle played in two games and threw for 306 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Help is on the way for Michigan under center, with the No. 1 quarterback in the 2025 class, Bryce Underwood, flipping to the Wolverines from LSU. Underwood is also the top overall prospect in the On3 Industry Rankingsfor the 2025 class.
Year 2 of the Moore era at Michigan starts against New Mexico on Aug. 30.
