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Michigan Bubble Completely Unfazed by Coaching Search Misses and Continued Scandals Rocking the University
Francis Xavier "Biff" Poggi, pictured above serving as acting head coach during one of Michigan's annual Our Head Coach Has Been Suspended for Cheating Again games has emerged as the favorite to succeed local degenerate Sherrone Moore. At least among former players.
The best way forward for @UMichFootball is to name Biff Poggi the 22nd head coach of the University of Michigan, not interim, Head Coach.
— Devin GARDNER (@devingardnerXCI) December 20, 2025
Poggi is serving as Michigan's interim head coach ahead of the Cure Bowl in the wake of Moore's firing last week. At 65 years old, he is tied with Houston's Willie Fritz as the fourth-oldest FBS coach, trailing UNC's Bill Belichick (73) Iowa's Kirk Ferentz (70) and Temple's K.C. Keeler (66).
He is 2-0 this season with the Wolverines as active head coach, putting his career mark at 8-16 when coupled with his two-year stint at Charlotte. Poggi has two decades of high school coaching experience and has never been a position coach or a coordinator at the collegiate level.
Which makes advocating for his candidacy as the next head coach for the winningest* football program in the sport's history a little puzzling. It's not fringe advocacy, either.
One thing that is continually overlooked and missed when talking about Biff Poggi as the potential next HC is his network. Notice how he joked with Saban on gameday earlier this year. Thats a real friendship. He is close with so many legends of the game, and his reputation alone
— Jake Butt (@Jbooty88) December 21, 2025
This comes in the wake of previous betting favorite Kalen DeBoer extending Alabama's postseason in the College Football Playoff - more on that shortly - and Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham extending his contract at Arizona State.
Dillingham inherited a Who Could Have Possibly Seen This Disaster Coming situation at his alma mater and got the Sun Devils to the CFP in his second season. Arizona State went 8-4 this year, including a loss to rival Arizona, and is looking to give Dillingham the first bowl win of his career against Duke in the Sun Bowl.
DeBoer is the most qualified and ideal coach for a large, complex and football-obsessed institution like Michigan - but Dillingham (35) barely has a decade of coaching experience. Still, he emerged as the co-favorite last week among Michigan faithful.
It turns out that might be the only entity that was serious about his candidacy:
Dillingham on his contact with Michigan: For me, I never got offered the job. None of that ever got to that point, but its an awesome place with unlimited resources. Somebody is going to get an unbelievable opportunity to take over one of the best rosters in the country.
— SunDevilSource.com (@SunDevilSource) December 20, 2025
So Michigan's candidates have included a 65-year old with very little practical experience for the job, a 35-year old with plenty of upside but no experience in Michigan's time zone or football orbit. Here are the betting favorites to get the job:
| COACH | ODDS | CURRENT POSITION | AGE | REASON TO BELIEVE | REASON TO DISMISS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KYLE WHITTINGHAM | +175 | RETIRED | 66 | Highly-regarded | No scandals; poor culture fit |
| JEDD FISCH | +180 | WASHINGTON HC | 49 | Michigan experience | Purportedly not part of the search |
| JEFF BROHM | +400 | LOUISVILLE HC | 54 | Strong B1G, QB experience | Louisville native at his alma mater |
| BIFF POGGI | +450 | INTERIM U-M HC | 65 | Well-liked by Michigan | Basically Hoke w/less experience |
| KALEN DEBOER | +1200 | ALABAMA HC | 51 | Best Job Ever, He'd Take It | Where is it easier to be successful? |
| JESSE MINTER | +1400 | LA CHARGERS DC | 42 | Harbaugh crime family ties | No HC experience anywhere |
There's no timetable for when Michigan - which is also investigating AD Warde Manuel - will bring in a permanent coach to lead a program which has been drenched with cheating scandals for several years. But that's merely how the rest of the world views the Wolverines. It's just cheeseburgers and jealousy inside the bubble.
But you never know. A hot new wildcard candidate might emerge shortly!
#Michigan Head Coach Hot Board Version 17.6:
— Message Board Geniuses (@BoardGeniuses) December 21, 2025
1. Pete Carroll pic.twitter.com/4GHyNpssR7
The only thing we know at this point? Moore was scheduled to serve another NCAA-mandated game suspension for cheating next season. He will miss Michigan's meeting against Western Michigan as planned, as well as all of the rest of the Wolverines' games.
Alabama running back Daniel Hill leaps over Oklahoma linebacker Kendal Daniels during a first-round College Football Playoff game at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. Alabama won 34-24. © BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Bama Rushes for 32 Yards at Oklahoma, Advancing to Pasadena
We've heard a lot about how important it is to win the rushing battle, especially within the context of the Ohio State-Michigan game. The Buckeyes did win that statistical category last month in Ann Arbor, but only after jumping out to an insurmountable lead.
Over the weekend in Norman, two toothless rushing games smashed into each other with great futility and the one with no teeth whatsoever prevailed and advanced to the Rose Bowl.
Alabama just won a playoff game with 32 yards rushing
— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs.bsky.social) December 19, 2025 at 11:41 PM
It goes down officially as 28 yards once the kneel-downs are added in, but still: Oklahoma more than doubled the Crimson Tide's output. How did they lose? How is this possible?
The Sooners outgained Alabama 118 to 12 in the 1st quarter, but the visitors settled into their surest way to win for the balance of the game - opportunistic defense and quarterback Ty Simpson's arm. They entered the locker room tied at halftime and left town with a double-digit win.
Perhaps playing to strengths is the best way to win games? Instead of stubbornly obsessing over one statistic and making that the primary objective? Someone write that down.
Dec 15, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Sports gambling odds are displayed at the BetMGM Sportsbook at the Excalibur hotel and casino. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
NBA Enacts New Gambling Policies Including Constant Injury Listings
The Association is taking bold action to make it harder for gamblers to use inside information to their advantage. The solution appears to be creating the tiniest possible window for said information:
The NBA is enacting several sports betting policies to its 30 teams, including changing injury reporting rules: Teams now will be required to resubmit injury listings on game day between 11 am and 1 pm local time and update public reports every 15 minutes, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 19, 2025
The official NBA web site is the big winner here, with injury updates now posting four times an hour instead of hourly. So many more clicks now! This is how you drive web traffic.
This move happens in the wake of former coach Damon Jones giving bettors information about player statuses, which produced an indictment from New York's Eastern District earlier this year. NBA commissioner Adam SIlver:
Even since the beginning of the season, sports betting is increasing, not decreasing, So it just means that we’re going to have to do whatever is necessary to protect our integrity.
Sports gambling has very recently - and quickly - become ubiquitous. Odds and wagers are now completely wrapped around sports broadcasts and score updates. It has become a widespread and attractive way to make money, and the rules of the game are that inside information wins.
Credit the NBA for not pretending this isn't a problem. This won't solve it; it will just make it harder to game the system. It's hard to compete with the cheaters, and even if they get caught - they'll just go somewhere else, like the Los Angeles Chargers.
ICYMI
Legend Bey Will Sign with Ohio State After All
The high school standout who wanted to be a Buckeye but whose mother preferred the Volunteers has since turned 18 and will be signing with his dream school.
Ted Ginn: Still Doing Everythin'
Columbus' new professional football team has its head coach. Can he return kicks?
Brian Hartline Hires Tim Beck to Coach USF's Offense
The two Ohio State assistants missed each other in Columbus by a year, so USF's new head coach has never seen his new OC's results up close. But he will get a nice look at them shortly!
What’s Next
- Women's Basketball: vs. Western Michigan, Monday, 6:30 p.m. ET on B1G+
- Men's Basketball: vs. Grambling State, Tuesday, 2 p.m. ET on BTN
- Cotton Bowl: vs. Miami, Weds Dec 31st, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
