Michigan Wolverines Week 7 Loss to USC: Is Sherrone Moore Up to the Task?

The Michigan Wolverines were dominated by the USC Trojans in Week 7. USC won 31-13, rushing for 224 yards compared to the Wolverines' 109. Michigan did enough to stay competitive in the first half, but mistakes and a lack of discipline allowed USC to gradually increase their lead. Michigan is supposed to be the disciplined, ground game team. So what happened? Ultimately, Sherrone Moore did not have his team ready to play.

"Sherrone Moore, UM vs AS 090 (cropped)" by Maize & Blue Nation is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Michigan Wolverines Week 7 Recap

This section usually features a big play breakdown of the game. Today, it will be brief to save the hassle of going over what an excellent day this was for USC. Bryce Underwood led an impressive drive that culminated in an incredible touchdown catch from Donaven McCulley. Andrew Marsh continues to impress as well, finishing with a touchdown and 138 receiving yards. Jordan Marshall finished the game at running back after Justice Haynes left with an injury. Marshall had 68 rushing yards. Derrick Moore and Zeke Berry each managed to produce a turnover for the defense.

The Wolverines allowed three sacks. Underwood and Jadyn Davis each threw a pick (Underwood left the game with an injury). The offense converted 2/9 third-down attempts. Michigan's defense had zero sacks, allowing a total of 489 yards.

Michigan Week 7: The Sherrone Moore Question

It is likely too early and too little evidence to discuss firing Sherrone Moore. It isn't fair, but his performance isn't beyond reproach. The team was not ready to play, and Michigan lost this game in every aspect in which the program prides itself on excelling. Moore's background is in the offensive line. So, why is the offensive line struggling to protect a mobile quarterback? Why is this team losing the battle of the trenches?

These problems aren't new. Things felt dire for the Wolverine fans when the team sat at 5-5 near the end of the 2024 season. They, in turn, beat Northwestern 50-6, upset Ohio State 13-10, and took down Alabama 19-13 in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Suddenly, the narrative surrounding Moore had changed. He was no longer leading a mistake-ridden, fear-of-losing program. Then, the Wolverines had a successful recruiting season, landing Bryce Underwood and doing well in the transfer portal. Things were looking up. He had a record of 8-5 as the permanent head coach.

The first sign of trouble this season came in Oklahoma. The Wolverines looked undisciplined and outmatched. The feeling that the culture Jim Harbaugh built was gone began to creep in again, especially as Moore was heading to his suspension. The team's success in Moore's absence did not help this narrative from growing. Michigan went 2-0, including a gutsy win against Nebraska. When Moore returned, the Wolverines struggled to defeat a less-than-stellar Wisconsin team at home. The old narratives began to creep in again. Poor play in the trenches. Not ready to play. Sloppy.

This takes us to the loss to USC. Moore had a lot of talk about how the stadium would be sold out because Michigan was coming to town. He had the team arrive early and practice at the Chargers' practice facility. Then, the poor three hours of football took place. Suddenly, it feels like the team has regressed to where they were before the big wins that ended the 2024 season. But no one will broach the idea of Moore being in a hot seat. Why is that?

It is partially because he comes with the "blessing" of Jim Harbaugh. But that should be an indictment, not a defense. Harbaugh built a powerhouse program built on discipline and dominating the trenches. The fact that those things have disappeared so quickly, or at least do so intermittently, is a sign that Moore hasn't kept the program in good standing. In his defense, Harbaugh left him without a quarterback and was dealing with issues stemming from the "scandals."

Even this is easy to negate, given the Wolverines' excellent recruiting class and solid portal additions this season. Underwood is the real deal at quarterback. So, how should fans judge Moore?

A good comparison is the program that Kalen DeBoer inherited at Alabama. DeBoer's loss to FSU this season prompted that fanbase to call for his ouster. DeBoer wasn't meeting the standards of Alabama football. Fair or not, that was true. Now, DeBoer has the Crimson Tide on track to make a run in the College Football Playoff, something Michigan is likely to miss for the second straight year after three consecutive appearances, when it was only four teams that made it, as opposed to the 12 that do so now.

Should Michigan not be held to the same standard of excellence as Alabama? If so, why not? Why shouldn't Michigan demand the College Football Playoff in year two? Year two of a college coach's tenure is arguably the defining year of his tenure. Jim Harbaugh, who inarguably was taking over a much messier situation in 2015, finished 10-3 in his second season. Brady Hoke finished 8-5. Michigan sits at 4-2 with Washington, Maryland, and Ohio State still on the schedule.

Michigan's only path to the CFP is to win out. After watching them struggle against USC and Oklahoma, both programs with more experienced coaches, it seems unlikely that the team can achieve the impossible, given the leniency in Ann Arbor. Sherrone Moore isn't going to be fired, barring some dramatic losses to finish the season (think MSU, Purdue, and Northwestern).

But why does he get a pass that other national powerhouses don't? Ryan Day was "on the hot seat" for his losses to Michigan. Look around any program with a storied tradition, and you will see how quickly this topic comes up. Why not in Ann Arbor? It's not deserving as of yet, but it's worth asking why Moore gets a pass that Kalen DeBoer, Ryan Day, and Dabo Swinney don't. Is Michigan football's excellence not as important? And if so, perhaps the media should ask if Sherrone Moore is up to the task of upholding this storied tradition in Ann Arbor.

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