The Jim Harbaugh era at Michigan ended Wednesday night, and it's likely only a matter of hours until the Sherrone Moore era begins.
Michigan's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach would've been a natural candidate at any point in college football history, but in the college football of Jan. 24, 2024, he's the only candidate.
The entire college football world has seen the consequence of Alabama's lack of succession plan following Nick Saban's surprise retirement. In fact, Michigan will see the consequence up close in November when Caleb Downs patrols Ohio State's secondary.
Ten Crimson Tide players entered the transfer portal following Saban's exit, almost all of them impact players or expected to be impact players in the near future: Downs, freshman offensive line starter Kadyn Proctor, leading receiver Isaiah Bond, 5-star quarterback signee Julian Sayin.
Worse yet, because of the timing of the move, Michigan players now have a 30-day window to enter the Portal, but Michigan is largely limited in who it can replace them with, at least until the Portal re-opens in the spring. The next 30 days are about limiting the damage for the next coach, which is why it would be a surprise if this search lasts longer than 30 hours.
"We are working quickly to hire the next head coach for the program and will do everything possible to keep this current staff and team together," AD Warde Manuel said Wednesday.
Moore has been on staff since 2018, but his 2021 promotion to offensive line coach coincided with Michigan's long-awaited breakthrough. Promoted to offensive coordinator in 2022, Michigan went 46-22 with Moore as tight ends coach, and 40-3 with three wins over Ohio State, three Big Ten championships, three Playoff berths and a national championship with Moore running the offensive line and/or the entire offense.
That includes his 3-0 run as acting head coach, which saw Michigan win at Penn State and beat Ohio State to clinch the Big Ten East. Moore coached those games, specifically Ohio State boldly, and Michigan benefitted by Moore playing to win, not to not lose.
It's widely speculated that defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh, leaving Moore as not only the natural choice, but really the only choice.