Overview
- ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, Washington’s Jedd Fisch, and Utah’s Kyle Whittingham are viewed as the leading options, and a hire is not expected before or immediately after Christmas.
- Kyle Whittingham has announced he will step down at Utah after the season, will coach the Dec. 31 Las Vegas Bowl, and has been described as a fixture in Michigan’s process as Morgan Scalley prepares to succeed him.
- Drinkwitz is tied up with a Dec. 27 bowl game, while Fisch is working through roster movement at Washington and is the only candidate with prior Michigan staff experience.
- Michigan has not named a replacement since firing Sherrone Moore for cause, and interim coach Biff Poggi has pushed to have the interim tag removed.
- The NCAA transfer portal opens Jan. 2 and runs through Jan. 16, and players also receive a five-day window to enter after a coaching hire, intensifying pressure on Michigan’s timeline.