Shocking Michigan firing creates intriguing opportunities for Oregon

Sherrone Moore was fired for cause at Michigan Thursday. ESPN's Pete Thamel reported, "U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately. Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member."

The Wolverines play Texas in the Citrus Bowl on January 31. Biff Poggi has been named interim coach. Fired after two seasons and a sign-stealing scandal, Moore had a 16-8 record, an upset win over Michigan in 2024.

The upheaval and uncertainty in the proud program immediately creates a compelling opportunity. The transfer portal opens on January 2nd and there could be a flood of Wolverine recruits that enter the portal.

Oregon has some uncertainty all quarterback. All through the season the prevailing thought was that Dante Moore would pass up the NFL draft (third-year players have to declare by January 15) and return to operate the Ducks offense for one more year.

Yet his draft stock keeps rising. The latest mock draft from Pro Football Focus has him as the No. 2 overall pick behind Fernando Mendoza.

Portal season promises to be a wild market for quarterbacks

If that happens, Oregon could be in the quarterback market. Sam Leavitt, a West Linn, Oregon native, has already announced that he's leaving the Sun Devils and intends to enter the portal when it opens.

Jaron Sagapolutele of Cal would have been a coveted prospect, but he's already decided to stay in Berkeley. Two hours after his introductory press conference as new Bears Coach Tosh Lupoi got on a plane to Hawaii to spend time with the freshman quarterback and his family, a breakout star for the Bears as a first-year starter.

In a queasy move, Marcel Reed of No. 7 playoff seed Texas A&M hinted that he could be available, for around $4 million. Not the greatest look with your team facing Miami on December 20. Reed could be both playing and auditioning for the Hurricanes.

Which brings the portal watch to Bryce Underwood. In an imploding situation, a coach fired a day after the Early Signing Period ended, will Underwood hit the transfer wire? New LSU coach Lane Kiffin would definitely be interested, and the Ducks have turned three straight transfer quarterbacks into NFL draft picks, Nix and (potentially) Moore to the first round.

In his first year as a starter the former five-star from Detroit passed for 2,229 yards and nine touchdowns, completing 61 percent, ran for 323 yards and five scores.

Whether he's a fit in new offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer's offense is another question. The next moves from Dante Moore, Underwood, Reed, Leavitt and the rest remain something to watch, all while focusing on James Madison and an epic 2026 playoff run. The college football season never stops, and neither does recruiting and Transfer Portal recruiting.

Michigan's surprise move opens up one of the biggest jobs in college football. ESPN's Nicole Auerbach even suggested that Alabama's Kalen DeBoer might be a candidate.

The news just came out with a press release from Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel. Players have not had a chance to react yet or assess their options. Teams will also be interested in 6-3, 230 linebacker Cole Sullivan, a sophomore who three interceptions and two sacks this season. Five-star true freshman offensive tackle Andrew Bablola, 6-6, 315 from Overland Park, Kansas, will be another player teams will be hot to poach, the No. 2 offensive tackle in the 2025 class, a position of need for the Ducks with both tackles moving on to the NFL.

Operational chaos creates opportunity for the rest of the conference. The Wolverines will have to move quickly. Two of the biggest brands in the Big Ten have suffered a massive upheaval in the most chaotic coaching carousel ever.