Sherrone Moore pursuing better results for year two with Michigan

LAS VEGAS — Although life after Jim Harbaugh continues to be a work in progress for the Wolverines, their head coach believes he has a solution to all of last season’s struggles.

Team 146 has the potential to be special, and Sherrone Moore is going to need them to be after suffering through a five-loss campaign last season. Michigan’s offense was one of the worst in the nation in 2024, especially the aerial attack. Moore had to shuffle three quarterbacks, and they all were a liability for the team.

However, with fall camp in session, Moore has several pieces in place for Michigan to make strides in year two, including new Offensive Coordinator Chip Lindsey. Everything starts with former five-star gunslinger Bryce Underwood, who’s the biggest recruit in program history. Underwood put together a promising performance in the Maize and Blue Game, and appears to be answer to the Wolverines’ offensive woes.

On the other side of the ball, Moore expects to field one of the Big Ten’s best defenses, considering the unit returns a plethora of players with experience and production. Not to mention Dominic Zvada is arguably the nation’s best place kicker. Which is why everything appears to be trending up as the Wolverines enter the grueling month of August.

“They’ve done a tremendous job changing their bodies, building a true team this offseason,” Moore said. “Like I said, ‘team over me’ has been our theme.”

The players are selfless, there’s trust among the coaching staff, and most importantly, everyone wants to live up to the expectations. After all, Michigan football is synonymous with winning and physicality. Moore knows what this year’s team is capable of, and refuses to let them settle for anything less than winning the Big Ten.

“We’re going to continue to push ourselves to reach the standard of who we are,” he said. “When you come to the University of Michigan, it’s not just about being a great football player, it’s about being a great person, a great man, great athlete and great student.”

The Wolverines underachieved last year though, and Moore’s first full season of patrolling the sidelines was a major setback. Beating Ohio State at the Horseshoe was phenomenal, but losing every other road game was pathetic. Moore was able to salvage the season with a bowl win over Alabama, and that created positive momentum.

“Last year we hit a couple of speed bumps, but we didn’t allow those to become roadblocks,” he said. “We overcame a lot of adversity and had a successful end to the year, but really we’re not living on that.”

The 2025 schedule will be very challenging with three of the first six games on the road at Oklahoma, Nebraska and USC. Underwood will need to make an immediate impact, and he has a defense that can get him back the ball for more opportunities to score. His qualities are encouraging to Moore too.

“Just continues to do everything he (Underwood) can to be the best teammate, student, football player and quarterback that he can be for our football team,” the 36-year old coach said. “He does everything the right way.”

Moore is eager to show the College football world how far the Wolverines have come under his leadership, and expects to unleash a team of discipline, unity and determination on the Big Ten this fall.

“I think as a team we just couldn’t be a better team this year.”