It’s been a hot minute since we saw a defending college football national champion look as bad as Michigan have this year. But just because Wolverines fans probably could have seen this coming, it doesn’t mean they’re any less mad.
As of writing, the No. 24 Michigan Wolverines trail the No. 22 Illinois Fighting Illini 21-7 heading into the fourth quarter. Michigan have lost two fumbles and missed a field goal while quarterback Jack Tuttle has completed just nine passes for 79 yards through three. A loss to Illinois today would snap a six-game winning streak against them that dates back to 2009.
Staring down the barrel of a 4-3 start that effectively ends any hopes of competing for the College Football Playoff, let alone the Big Ten title, Michigan fans want someone to pay the consequences. Though if it’s any consolation to first-year head coach Sherrone Moore, he’s not the only one that fans want to get the boot right now:
Through 3 quarters pic.twitter.com/0pE18bS5Vt
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) October 19, 2024
“Zero improvement and we are halfway the the season. If anything, they’ve gotten worse. Definitely puts the Moore hire into question,” one user replied to the Wolverines’ third quarter score post.
“From National Champs to looking at the top 25 from the outside. No way they make it back in with the remaining schedule,” wrote another.
“Fire the entire coaching staff, y’all embarrassing yourselves,” a third wrote.
The departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh, quarterback J.J. McCarthy and other core members of their 2023 national title team clearly had a bigger impact on the program than many of us suspected it would.
Moore may make it to the 2025 season purely on the back of this being a transition year. But if the Wolverines don’t look ready to compete in 2025, the patience in Ann Arbor could run very thin, very quickly.
Related: Michigan Fans Want Sherrone Moore Fired After Embarrassing Game vs. Texas