Ain’t it crazy how fast the tides turn? One minute, Michigan is at the top of the college football world, confetti falling, trophy in hand. The next, Jim Harbaugh dips for the NFL, uncertainty looms for the players, and Sherrone Moore is left trying to piece together a squad in a sport where the NIL bag runs everything. Michigan had to move fast, but not fast enough. And now? Michigan legend is demanding respect for Moore after a brutal season, while the program gets hit with a cold dose of reality—money doesn’t solve roster problem.

Harbaugh’s exit from Michigan threw the team into chaos. They lost their QB1, RB1, and a whole roster of dogs to the NFL. But the real issue? They snoozed on the portal. Sherrone Moore inherited a team with a shaky quarterback room and an offense that couldn’t buy a touchdown some weeks. The numbers? Ugly.

But, Charles Woodson still had some words of praise for the head coach. “He did a great job of just keeping the team together and finishing on a strong note,” Michigan legend said. “I mean, we played the season, man, and it was hard for us to move the football. You know, we went through kind of a carousel of quarterbacks, trying to figure out who was going to be the guy that could win games for us, and it became tough.”

Michigan averaged just 22 points per game—113th in the nation. Their quarterback carousel—Davis Warren, Alex Orji, and Jack Tuttle—barely cleared 1,600 passing yards all season, with more picks than tuddies (12 TDs, 13 INTs). The run game? Mid-tier at best, 80th nationally. And with all that, they still went 8-5? Woodson ain’t wrong for wanting his guy to get some love. Moore took heat all year for missing top-tier portal QBs. No flashy five-star replacement. No seasoned transfer vet. Just Warren, Orji, and Tuttle trying to figure it out on the fly. And when you’re following a title-winning season? The bar ain’t just high—it’s touching the sky.

Losing games was one thing, but Michigan had bad luck hitting them too. Their best player, Will Johnson—a top-five NFL Draft prospect—missed a chunk of the season. Key pieces from the 2023 title squad? Gone. JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum, Roman Wilson—out the door. It was supposed to be fine because, hey, Michigan’s got money, right? NIL was supposed to keep them stacked. Michigan Wolverines had a $20-30 million NIL budget for the 2024 season, but the truth hit hard: $30 million in NIL cash still couldn’t land enough elite talent. Four and five-star recruits? Barely trickled in. The QB room was a mess, and it showed on the field.

Yet Charles Woodson sees the vision. “I think Sherrone did a good job, especially ending our season on a good note—a win against Ohio State, a win against Alabama, and getting the number one quarterback in the country. He also did well in the transfer portal, bringing in some guys, and had a solid recruiting class. So, things are looking good—he’s done a great job and set himself up for a successful second season as head coach.”

But let’s give credit where it’s due—Moore made sure they ended strong. Michigan clapped Ohio State in Columbus—straight up punched the No. 1 offense and defense in the mouth. They then sent Alabama packing in the ReliaQuest Bowl (19-13). If that ain’t resilience, what is? Also, they bagged a massive win off the field: flipping the No. 1 QB in the 2025 class, Bryce Underwood, from LSU.

Sherrone Moore and Michigan’s $50M NIL war chest

If 2024 was about struggling, 2025 is all about flexing. Michigan’s new NIL budget? $50 million, thanks to Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison deciding to drop bags like he’s playing Monopoly. That’s how they landed Underwood, plus a solid class ranked No. 6 nationally. Five-star OT Andrew Babalola and Ty Haywood? Secured. Portal class? Ranked third, featuring Fresno State QB Mikey Keene, Alabama RB Justice Haynes, and a handful of big-body linemen and defense pieces. Michigan is moving mad differently now.

But here’s the kicker—despite all that money, Oregon is still running laps around them in recruiting. Dan Lanning has turned the Ducks into a talent magnet, and with just a $23M NIL budget, they’re landing more blue-chip recruits than anyone. Nike’s Phil Knight keeps Oregon stacked to his core, but Lanning is outworking everybody. And Michigan? They’ve got cash, but it’s still about execution.

Michigan’s about to find out if money really talks. Moore’s got the backing now, but he can’t afford another mid-season meltdown. The Wolverines spent big, but it’s time to prove that they didn’t just throw cash in the fire. Buckle up—this next season’s about to be a movie.