While Michigan Wolverines has widely been considered the leader for the former Alabama commit and 5-star recruit, he has yet to sign. Even the most confident gunslingers get nervous when a rival walks into the saloon with a fresh trophy and an irresistible swagger. Michigan football is under the steady hand of Sherrone Moore, but one recent development has left Wolverine Nation biting its nails.

The tension centers around Ty Haywood, the No. 5 offensive tackle in the 2025 class who has been trending toward Michigan in recent weeks. Haywood visited Ann Arbor over the weekend, rubbing shoulders with elite prospects and soaking in the maize-and-blue atmosphere. Yet, he left campus without signing on the dotted line—a detail that has turned heads, especially given his recent Instagram activity.

Ty Haywood stirred the pot when he shared an Instagram story of a fan hyping up Michigan’s biggest rival, Ohio State after their Monday night 34-23 national championship win over Notre Dame. A Buckeye fan’s post read, “This the move, gang,” referring to Haywood potentially flipping to Ohio State. His response? A cryptic series of question marks: “❓❓❓.” Sherrone Moore, seeing his top target acknowledge Ohio State’s College Football Playoff victory, feels like catching your best friend complimenting your nemesis.

It’s not just the optics that make this situation so intriguing; it’s the context. Michigan has been dominant on the field and dismantling Ohio State 4-1. But Ryan Day has freshly reclaimed momentum with their latest title, and their reputation as a pipeline to the NFL remains a powerful lure. The timing of Haywood’s post, just days after he visited Ann Arbor, has only added fuel to the speculation.

What makes this even more high-stakes is Michigan’s significant investment in NIL infrastructure, which has elevated the program’s recruiting game. The Wolverines are no longer just selling tradition and winning culture—they’re also offering players the chance to maximize their personal brands. For a prospect like Haywood, whose potential as a future NFL star is clear, Michigan’s package seems hard to beat. Yet, Ohio State’s championship aura might be tilting the scales.

For now, the ball is in Haywood’s court. His decision will not only shape the future of Michigan’s offensive line but could also signal a shift in the recruiting arms race between these two powerhouse programs. He might be the perfect addition to enhancing their security detail to protect the No. 1 player in the nation Bryce Underwood.

On3’s insider has good news for Sherrone Moore

The maize and blue still seem to be in pole position for this elite prospect. Just recently, two of the most respected voices in recruiting, Steve Wiltfong and Chad Simmons from On3, made predictions favoring Michigan to land Ty Haywood.

Here’s why that’s a big deal: Wiltfong and Simmons don’t just toss out predictions like candy at a parade. With Simmons assigning a 60% confidence level to his call, it’s clear Michigan’s making all the right moves. For context, that’s a rock-solid percentage when coming from industry insiders who have a knack for reading the tea leaves in recruiting.

Thanks to these latest projections, Michigan has officially edged out powerhouse Alabama in this tug-of-war. According to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, Sherrone Moore and his squad are now sitting pretty with a 59.4% chance of securing Haywood’s signature. Meanwhile, Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide have slipped to second place at 36.4%.