The portal giveth and the portal taketh away. That's what Michigan football fans have on their minds right now. While some solid news has been coming in for new head coach Kyle Whittingham, one major loss on defense just arrived.
Kyle Whittingham drops the mic on why the Michigan job was a no-brainer for him
There was hope that despite entering the transfer portal, maybe Cole Sullivan would have a change of heart and return to the Wolverines next season. That's not going to happen. On Wednesday, news broke via Pete Thamel that Sullivan is off to the SEC instead, committing to play for Brent Venables and Oklahoma:
Source: Former Michigan linebacker Cole Sullivan has committed to Oklahoma. He was one of the top linebackers in the portal, marking another big get for the Sooners. https://t.co/3Zucl2bxXZ
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 7, 2026
Cole Sullivan has committed to Oklahoma instead of returning to Michigan football
Yup, this is going to sting quite a bit. This past season for the Wolverines and former head coach Sherrone Moore, the 6-3, 230-pounder turned plenty of heads because of his consistent, strong play. On the year, Sullivan recorded 44 total tackles, three interceptions and two sacks.
Because of how great he looked, it was no surprise at all that several teams entered the mix to land his services. In the end, however, Oklahoma was able to get things across the line, preventing Michigan from bringing him back for at least one more campaign.
According to the 247Sports rankings, Sullivan is ranked the No. 197 transfer overall for the 2026 cycle. This is no question a big get for the Sooners, as Venables and Co. are putting together quite the roster. Oklahoma is hoping to get back to the College Football Playoff for the second year in a row.
As for Michigan, the offseason has been filled with changes, with Moore out and Whittingham taking over. Despite the Sullivan news putting a damper on the program morale, don't forget that Whittingham has done great work in retaining key players, of course including QB Bryce Underwood. Still, seeing Sullivan commit to OU is not something people were hoping to see this week.