The 2024 Michigan football season finished on a strong note, as strong a note as possible for a team that wasn't going to make the College Football Playoff.
After a 5-5 start, a bowl didn't even seem guaranteed. But a shutout win over Northwestern, followed by upset wins over No. 2 Ohio State and No. 11 Alabama, salvaged the season.
The key for Michigan football is making sure that doesn't happen again. The Wolverines have the resources to be a yearly playoff contender and should have national title aspirations again with Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 recruit/QB in the 2025 recruiting class in the hold.
Underwood raises the ceiling of the entire Michigan football program. His commitment happened in November, but he signed during the Early Signing Day which technically counts as the offseason.
Beyond that, Sherrone Moore hired Chip Lindsey, a proven offensive coordinator endorsed by top-5 pick in 2024, Drake Maye, as well as bringing back Biff Poggi, the former associate head coach under Jim Harbaugh.
Michigan football is "making grown man moves"
That was a great hire by Moore. It prompted Taylor Lewan, a former Michigan football standout, who now does the "Bussin with the Boys" podcast, to post on X about Poggi's hire: "This is a big deal. Michigan is making grown man moves this offseason."
This is a big deal, Michigan is making grown man moves this offseason. https://t.co/RTHKyxYKXn
— Taylor Lewan (@TaylorLewan77) February 3, 2025
Poggi was the head coach for Charlotte the past two seasons. He was the right-hand man of Jim Harbaugh and also built St. Frances Academy in Baltimore into a national high school powerhouse.
Beyond the coaching moves, which also include Juan Castillo, a long-time NFL offensive line coach as an analyst, the Wolverines landed former five-star Justice Haynes in the transfer portal, along with Donavan McCulley, Damon Payne, Tre Williams, Anthony Simpson, Troy Bowles, TJ Metcalf, and quarterback Mikey Keene.
Some fans might have been underwhelmed by the transfer portal haul but there's a lot to like and when you consider the coaching additions, and the work done on the recruiting trail, which could include another top-40 overall recruit, Lewan is right about the Wolverines making "grown man" moves this offseason.