The 2025 season has barely begun, yet the Michigan Wolverines are already standing in the middle of a storm. For a team known for its discipline, teamwork, and legacy, the start has been unexpectedly tough.
The NCAA has suspended head coach Sherrone Moore for two matches, a move that sent shockwaves through the locker room and fan base alike. For now, the responsibility of steering Michigan through this turbulent phase rests on Biff Poggi, who will serve as interim head coach for the next two weeks.
It’s more than just a suspension. It’s a test of Michigan’s unity, leadership, and belief in each other.
The Suspension That Changed Everything
The NCAA’s investigation into the Advanced-Scouting Case found that Sherrone Moore hadn’t fully cooperated and had held back essential details. That decision cost him two matches against Central Michigan (September 14) and Nebraska (September 20).
Moore is still allowed to guide the team during practice sessions this week, but once the suspension starts, he can’t be part of anything, including meetings, sidelines, or game planning. He’ll rejoin the Wolverines on October 4 when they face Wisconsin.
It’s a tough blow, especially this early in the season. But Michigan fans have seen this kind of situation before, back in 2023, Jim Harbaugh missed six games due to suspension, and yet the team rallied together and went on to become national champions.
This time, the faces are different, but the spirit remains the same.
If there’s anyone who understands Michigan’s football culture deeply, it’s Biff Poggi. At 66 years old, Poggi isn’t just another name on the coaching staff; he’s been part of the Wolverines’ family for years.
He joined Michigan as an analyst in 2016, became associate head coach in 2021, and later took a shot at being the head coach for Charlotte (2023–24). His record there wasn’t remarkable —just six wins and 16 losses —but numbers don’t tell the whole story.
Before college football, Poggi made a name for himself at the high school level. He turned Gilman School and St. Francis Academy into respected programs, mentoring countless young players who later thrived at higher levels.
Inside Michigan’s locker room, Poggi is known as a man who listens more than he speaks, who leads without making noise. He’s in every meeting, offense, defense, special teams, quietly taking notes, guiding strategies, and offering wisdom.
As Moore once said,
“If I’m in a meeting, Poggi is there too. He’s part of every decision.”
Now, for the next two games, those decisions are entirely his.
Michigan’s season hasn’t begun as planned. With a 1–1 record and a 24–13 loss to Oklahoma, the team is still finding its footing. The loss wasn’t just about missed plays; it was about rhythm, timing, and trust, things that take time to rebuild.
Their upcoming fixtures will test everything they’ve got:
- Central Michigan (September 14) A match that looks easy on paper, but could be tricky if confidence remains low.
- Nebraska (September 20) The Big Ten opener. A defining game that could set the tone for the rest of the year.
Every pass, every tackle, and every timeout from now on will carry extra weight.
How the Team Will Function Without Moore
Even without Moore on the sidelines, Michigan isn’t falling apart. The structure remains intact, the leadership shared:
- Chip Lindsay – handles the offense
- Wink Martindale – runs the defense
- JB Brown – oversees special teams
- Biff Poggi – manages it all from above
This balance reflects the team’s philosophy: no single person defines Michigan football. The system does. The culture does.
Moore himself put it best before stepping away:
“We’ll work as one unit. Everyone knows their role. Our focus doesn’t change.”
And that’s what will carry them through the next two weeks.
Ask any Michigan player about Biff Poggi, and you’ll likely hear the exact words steady, calm, and genuine.
He’s not the kind of coach who yells to make a point. He connects. Whether it’s during practice, film study, or casual talks, Poggi always finds a way to make players feel understood. He’s seen as more of a mentor than a manager, the kind of coach you want to play for.
One senior player said last week,
“Coach Poggi knows how to talk to us. He doesn’t push pressure he shares belief.”
And maybe that’s what Michigan needs most right now, belief.
The following 14 days could define not just Michigan’s season but Poggi’s legacy, too.
If he manages to lead the team to two straight wins, he’ll stabilize a shaky start and earn tremendous respect across the program. It would also ease the pressure when Moore returns, turning a crisis into a comeback.
But if they lose even once, it could trigger doubts, affect morale, and weaken their Big Ten standing.
For Poggi, this is redemption. After a rough run at Charlotte, he now has a chance to prove himself again, not with words, but with results.
The NCAA’s ruling doesn’t just affect now; it stretches into the future. Moore’s suspension extends into the first game of the 2026 season, set to be played against Western Michigan in Frankfurt, Germany, a rare international fixture for the Wolverines.
Michigan has already filed an appeal, but even if the suspension stands, it won’t define who they are. What defines them is how they respond when tested.
The fans, meanwhile, have been here before. They remember 2023, how the Wolverines turned doubt into dominance. And deep down, they believe this team can do it again.
At its heart, this isn’t just a story about football. It’s about leadership under pressure, about men who trust each other when everything feels uncertain.
Biff Poggi’s calm strength.
Sherrone Moore’s quiet faith.
And a locker room full of young athletes learning that sometimes, adversity is the best coach of all.
For the Michigan Wolverines, the next two games aren’t just about wins and losses. They’re about proving something more profound: that unity can outlast suspension, and that leadership doesn’t always need a title.
Sherrone Moore will return. The noise will fade. But what the team builds during these two weeks —quiet, unshakable trust —could last far longer.
Because in football, as in life, sometimes your most significant victories come when the odds are stacked against you.
