Let’s talk about Sherrone Moore, the man who went from filling in as Michigan’s interim head coach to somehow pulling off what could be low-key seen as one of the most unexpected Cinderella stories in college football this past season. The Wolverines were reeling after their head coach, Jim Harbaugh dipped for the NFL, and their star QB, J.J. McCarthy, jumped to the pros and got benched. So, yeah, it wasn’t looking too hot. Fast forward a few months, and Moore is leading the charge, shocking a lot of people along the way.

Look, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Moore’s first full season was some kinda bumpy ride. Michigan literally got rocked by losses right after winning the natty—17 players heading to the transfer portal? Ouch. But, as Greg McElroy, former NFL Jets and Bama QB and current analyst, pointed out in his annual coaching grades: “Sherrone Moore…well, he had the interim for about six games filling in for Jim Harbaugh, and I think it made sense. You really couldn’t go anywhere else when the coaching search was on.” For a guy to inherit a program losing pieces left and right and still grind out an 8-5 record? That ain’t no small feat.

Then Greg McElroy continued while giving big props to Michigan Bossman, “Their year-one record was 8-5, and I’m not sure there was a coach that improved their grade more in the final few weeks of the regular season than Sherrone Moore.” The Wolverines started their season slow and had a few upsetting losses early in the season against Illinois, Washington, and Indiana. They were 5-5 after that humiliating 20-15 loss to Indiana. Their QB room literally sucked. After that week 12, Sherrone Moore flipped the switch and went on a demonic run.

What really put Moore on the map was the Wolverines’ performance against Ohio State. Coming into that game, Michigan wasn’t supposed to do much. Hell, they were underdogs. Yet, in a game that had more drama than a reality TV show, the Wolverines turned up with a 13-10 victory. That dub over Ohio State gave them mad confidence to play the game fearlessly. It was their 4th consecutive W against OSU, the longest streak since the late ’80s. That’s some serious bragging rights.

The defense stepped up big, especially with those clutch interceptions from Aamir Hall and Makari Paige. And Kalel Mullings was running like a man possessed. If Michigan was going to turn things around, this game would be the catalyst. But the madness didn’t end in Columbus.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any crazier, Michigan took down Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl, securing a 19-13 win. And let’s not forget the solid contributions from their defense, forcing turnovers like it was a daily job. Freshman Jordan Marshall also added his name to the highlight reel, earning MVP honors for his 100-yard rushing performance. So, there’s that—two massive wins against teams that are national powerhouses.

Moore’s coaching turnaround was something literally outta a miracle. Greg McElroy gave a big fat grade for Sherrone Moore’s work at Ann Arbor, “I give his first year a B+. It was far from flawless, like I said, but still very, very solid. And I’m telling you, man, this thing might have been a C prior to the Ohio State game.”

Turning the corner: Sherrone Moore’s impact on Michigan’s future

Now, let’s get real. When Moore took over, it was easy to throw the ‘he’s just filling in for Harbaugh’ label on him. The man had big shoes to fill, no doubt. But as the season unfolded, he not only stepped up but knocked down the doors of doubt. With an 8-5 record, his first year at the helm proved that you can’t just count a coach out based on one rough start.

The recruiting buzz also wasn’t left out of the equation. Michigan’s recruiting class was solid. They finished No.9th in the nation. The Wolverines finished No.4th in the transfer portal ranking. They are going big on locking in Notre Dame OL, Rocco Spindler. Now they finally got Bryce Underwood at QB after going through Davis Warren, Jack Tuttle, and Alex Orji. It’s clear that the Wolverines are back on track. As McElroy mentioned, Moore’s ability to salvage the season after losing so many key players was a testament to his coaching acumen.

Sherrone Moore’s first year as Michigan’s head coach was one for the books. The man turned a sinking ship into an almost playoff contender, something no one saw coming. The wins over Ohio State and Alabama were big, but it’s the foundation he’s laying for future seasons that has Michigan fans thinking big.

Will Moore continue to rise, or will he stumble like so many before him? One thing’s for sure: the Wolverines are heading in the right direction, and Moore is at the wheel. If 8-5 in a chaotic season is just the start, we’re all in for one hell of a ride.