The Michigan Wolverines will play one more football game in 2025, as they are set to take on the Texas Longhorns in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Eve (3 p.m., ABC). I’m not sure if you’ve seen, but there’s been a lot going on over the last month. We give our thoughts on all the craziness from the last 30 days or so, and give some analysis for the bowl game, in the final Maize n Brew Roundtable of 2025!
Well…it sure has been an interesting and busy few weeks in Ann Arbor since the regular season ended.
Allow this first section to be a sounding board for whatever strong opinions you have on your mind.
Von: Biff Poggi is an absolute menace for all the BS comments he made in the media over the last couple weeks. To me, it seems as if he was using these media appearances as leverage to try and get the job himself — saying the program is a dysfunctional organization and he’s the right guy for the job because “I know what the hell I’m doing.” Then, he seemingly went rogue and went on a Texas-based podcast — there’s an incredibly slim chance Michigan’s SID Dave Ablauf would have let him do that — to continue talking about how bad things still were in Ann Arbor. Poggi should never be allowed around the Michigan football program ever again, and considering Michigan doesn’t have a horny pre-teen running the program anymore, Poggi’s role is now irrelevant anyways.
Kellen: I’ve been a married man for seven months now, and speaking from experience, it’s REALLY easy to not cheat on your wife. So the fact that Moore was doing that, let alone with his subordinate for YEARS, is despicable as hell. I thought so highly of the man for the past half decade or so, and he pissed it all away because he couldn’t keep it in his pants. What a loser.
Andrew: Thank you for allowing me this time — It’s a Wonderful Life is the best way to guarantee your holidays are ruined. Christmas cookies pair perfectly with morning coffee and judgment should only be visual, not verbal. And White Russians are the closest anyone should get to talking politics during the holidays.
Nick: I’m just glad that the coaching search is behind us now. The last two weeks or so have been a period of great uncertainty for the program and they now have something solid in place. They’re not totally out of the woods yet, as Kyle Whittingham is going to have plenty of work to do when it comes to building a staff and building/retaining his roster, but it seems that things are at least trending back in the right direction.
Charles: Through all of the confusion, drama and shock that was Sherrone Moore’s scandalous departure this month, Michigan somehow got a major upgrade with the addition of head coach Kyle Whittingham. It’s not often that such an ugly break up opens the door for a superior head coach to step in. Now, we wait to see how the coaching staff and roster come together, and if Whittingham has enough left in the tank to find legitimate success in Ann Arbor. Whittingham is one of the nation’s most underrated head coaches, but there’s no guarantee he gets Michigan back to competing for championships.
Grace: Michigan’s athletic department should have considered changing its hiring and vetting process a few years ago. While I’m annoyed about the lackluster investigation and abrupt firing, I’ve since gotten excited about the hiring of Kyle Whittingham. It once again seems like things may have worked out okay. Still, I think the athletic department does need to do some serious evaluating moving forward.
Matt: The athletic department at the University of Michigan has some deep-rooted, disturbing flaws. Seemingly no hire gets vetted, no one knows who’s in charge, and times are tepid. Despite all that, Michigan football is in a better place today than it was two weeks ago. The program now has an adult in charge and is headed in the right direction.
Scotty: An embarrassing situation for Michigan is going to end up benefiting it in the long run. I’ve never been a big believer in Sherrone Moore, but it’s a shame it ended like it did. That said, Whittingham is a big upgrade.
What are your thoughts on Kyle Whittingham being Michigan’s new head coach, and what grade would you give the hire?
Von: I wrote about this on The Feed, but I’m giving this hire a B+. He has a track record of success and runs a clean football program — two obvious things Michigan needed in its next head football coach. But he is an older guy (66 years old) and has never coached this far east in his life. I question how well he’s going to be able to recruit kids in the midwest, so my hope is he brings some of his young staffers from Utah to help in this area. Overall, I like the hire, but there are some questions I need answered as well.
Kellen: To me, it’s an A given the circumstances. It’s like going Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve, only to find the exact KitchenAid attachment that your mom will love in the bottom row of the kitchen section. DeBoer was never going to leave Bama for here, so Michigan fans can put that dream to bed. Whittingham is a great defensive coach who gives this program a high floor and can help stabilize the mess for a few years. And if the coordinator hires are good and most of the recruits stay, even better.
Andrew: I am ecstatic. I didn’t think it was a real option when it was first reported, but if it had, he would have been strongly second on my personal big board behind Kalen DeBoer. Whit’s attitude and style fit the midwest as perfectly as self reliance and light beer. And his reputation as a culture-builder and leader of men, fits the Michigan Man ethos better than any degree could represent. Grade: A.
Nick: I don’t think Michigan would have ended up hiring him if it weren’t for the circumstances that the hire happened under. Michigan was conducting its search after the candidates for this year’s cycle had been picked over in the previous weeks, and he still probably wasn’t the Wolverines’ top choice as evidenced by them waiting out Kalen DeBoer. But even if he wasn’t the first choice and even if he’s 66 years old, he’s a damn good football coach with a great track record. I’ll give the hire a B+ for right now, with the chance for that grade to be even better depending on how the staff and roster look in a few weeks.
Charles: After missing out on projected top targets in Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer and Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, I think Whittingham was esentially the next best option. I wouldn’t go as far as saying it was a home run hire, but it’s a very, very solid hire that will bring some much-needed consistency, discipline and stability to the program. I would give Whittingham’s hire a B+.
Grace: The more I’ve looked into his teams, the more excited I’m getting excited for him. I give the hire an A-/B+ . I still think it’s dumb Michigan put itself in a situation where it needed to make another rushed hire to take over, but Whittingham is a great coach and should have success.
Matt: To me, it’s a B. Whittingham is not a slam dunk like Kalen DeBoer would have been. His age will certainly be used to negatively recruit Michigan by other schools. However, I have a hard time complaining about a future Hall-of-Famer being the new head coach. He fits the Michigan culture to a T and will bring instant credibility and respect back to the block M. It’s not a home run, but it’s a solid ground-rule double.
Scotty: I give the grade an A-. Because of his age I doubt he will be the coach for a super long time, but he should be able to bring in a great culture, and I’m excited to see what he can do with Michigan’s resources.
Oh yeah, there’s a game coming up. Michigan vs Texas in the Citrus Bowl. A meaningless game in the grand scheme of things, what are you hoping to see in this game to springboard this program into 2026?
Von: I want to see improvements across the board from Bryce Underwood. I don’t need to see a ton of deep shots or anything like that — I’m looking for the small things. Progressing through his reads, stepping up in the pocket and delivering an accurate ball, and pulling the ball and running ONLY when nobody is open. If he hits on some deep balls to Andrew Marsh and company, that’s great, too. But I really need Underwood to go from a player that has talent, to a player that properly utilizes his talent.
Kellen: With Moore no longer on staff, let’s see Bryce Underwood unleashed. Use designed runs, sprinkle in some read option, use designed rollouts, let him air it out, try a deep shot to Andrew Marsh every 10 plays. Not only will that help springboard Underwood into the new year, but it could entice wide receiver recruits to come to Ann Arbor.
Andrew: Development and fight. I want to see players continuing to get better and players who fight like hell anytime they wear the maize and blue.
Nick: A football game? You mean there’s more to this time of year than coaching searches and transfer portal targets? Well, in terms of the game, I would love it if Michigan could simply copy and paste what it did against Alabama last year. On paper, Texas looks like the better team, but so was Alabama last year. I think it would be great to see Bryce Underwood be able to have lots of freedom in the offense as something of a warmup for next season where he’ll likely be tasked with shouldering more of a load. I’ll also be interested to see how the young secondary holds up against a solid group of pass-catchers for Texas.
Charles: I’m hoping to see quarterback Bryce Underwood put a positive cap on an up-and-down freshman campaign, and I’m also interested in seeing how the Michigan offensive and defensive lines hold up against a strong Texas front. Lastly, I think it’s important for several underclassmen to make a splash and build some momentum for 2026.
Grace: It’d be nice to see a relaxed Bryce Underwood. Heading into the final game of the season, Michigan was still technically playing for a chance at the Big Ten Championship. There’s some pressure there and pressure to beat Ohio State. I’m looking forward to seeing how he looks in a game like this, and hoping it can offer some confidence heading into 2026.
Matt: There’s meaningless bowl games, and then there’s this extra meaningless bowl game. Texas has had opt-outs left and right, and Michigan will be playing with a roster where 50 percent of the players could be playing elsewhere next year. What I’m hoping to see is a rejuvenated Bryce Underwood having fun with his teammates. An offensive line mauling would be a welcomed sight as well.
Scotty: I just want to see the team play with energy and focus. It will be a good sign if we see a together group that looks excited for the future at Michigan.
Give us a bold prediction for the game.
Von: Jordan Marshall runs wild and goes for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
Kellen: Andrew Marsh scores the first touchdown of the game on a go ball (sprinkle that bet while you can, you’re welcome).
Andrew: Bryce Underwood throws for 300 yards.
Nick: I’ll say Bryce Underwood throws for 300 yards. Michigan doesn’t really have a reason to hold him back at all and I’m making the assumption Texas will have a lead for much of the game. With no tomorrow to play for, it’s time to see what Michigan’s multi-million dollar man can really do with full control of the offense.
Charles: I really don’t know what to expect with this game at all. I’ll be the first to say I didn’t see Michigan pulling off an upset over a fringe CFP team in Alabama last season. The Wolverines find themselves in a similar situation, facing a Texas team that many considered playoff-worthy. My bold prediction will be Underwood surpasses his current career-high of 280 passing yards, while exceeding 300 total yards for the third time this year.
Grace: Michigan has two passing touchdowns.
Matt: The game has more punt yardage than offensive yardage, as it’s a slog of a game. Neither team will be able to move the ball with any consistency.
Scotty: I think Bryce finally throws for three scores in a game. Play-calling will hopefully be a bit more creative.
What’s the final score and why?
Von (12-0): Texas 24, Michigan 17. I think the Wolverines hang tough for the first three quarters, but the Longhorns pull away in the final 15 minutes of game time.
Kellen (11-1): I think there has been too much going on for Michigan to focus. Combine that with an inconsistent offensive line that will have its hands full with Colin Simmons, and I think Texas wins, 30-20.
Andrew (9-2): Michigan will move the ball, but will ultimately fall short due to self inflicted mistakes. Texas wins, 24-20.
Nick (8-0): Give me Michigan winning, 26-24, with the Wolverines winning on a last-second field goal. We saw how the Wolverines played without Sherrone Moore on the sidelines this year and I think they have the chance to pull of another win without him. They can get the job done, even if it’s a bit of a struggle against a talented Texas team, by playing loose with no pressure.
Charles (2-0): Give me Texas, 28-17. Michigan just has too much uncertainty for me to have any confidence in it, and the Longhorns have more than enough talent to create explosive plays on both sides of the ball. Michigan should be able to keep it close for a while, but Texas pulls away in the second half.
Grace (9-3): Michigan, 24-21. Michigan has had a lot of distractions lately, and given Biff Poggi’s interesting week of interviews, I’m a little worried about the team’s preparation. But it’s the end of the season and Texas is having quite a few guys in the secondary opting out, so I’ll pick the Wolverines for kicks and giggles.
Matt (11-0): Texas 17, Michigan 14. Predicting this game seems trivial since nobody knows anything, but it feels wrong to pick Michigan to win.
Scotty (3-2): Michigan was at its best without Sherrone this season. The Wolverines win, 27-21.
