By the end of this week, Michigan football will have a new head coach.
That's my prediction anyway. The timing seems to add up. The Wolverines want to have a coach in place by January 1st. Yet, it took 10 days to hire Dusty May. Sherrone Moore was fired on Wednesday, December 10th, so a hire by the 21st or 22nd seems reasonable.
Michigan seemed determined to take a swing at Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer. He released a statement on Sunday, stating he has no interest in other jobs. He also said he hasn't spoken to anyone about another job.
His representatives might have, though. Alabama is working on an extension now, according to On3. If that's signed, game over. The same with Kenny Dillingham.
But saying you are close to an extension is different from having it completed. With that in mind, here is the updated power ranking of Michigan head-coaching candidates with a couple of new candidates now part of the equation.
5. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri
According to the AP, his representatives were contacted by Michigan. Yet, after his comments about the sign-stealing scandal, it's hard to see this happening. The best thing you can say is that Drinkwitz had two double-digit win seasons at Missouri. He also beat Ohio State, but that was in a meaningless bowl game, in which OSU played a backup quarterback.
Hard pass.
4. Kyle Whittingham, Utah
Kyle Whittingham has been one of the best college football head coaches for two decades at Utah. He won back-to-back Pac-12 titles in 2021 and 2022. He also coached the Utes to a 13-0 season in 2008, which included a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama.
Whittingham has never coached in the College Football Playoff and he just stepped down from the job at Utah, effective at the end of the season.
However, Chris Balas of The Wolverine reports that Whittingham isn't done coaching. He's contacted Michigan about the job, and could become a candidate, although his age (65) will probably work against him.
Yet, it should be noted that Curt Cignetti is 64 years old. That means he was 63 during the first season that he was the head coach for Indiana.
Just food for thought.
Whittingham isn't expected to seriously contend for the job, but he's a proven head coach, and if he was able to hire the right staff, a 5-6 year run of success isn't hard to imagine.
3. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
I know, I know, the man just said he's not leaving Alabama. But things could change depending on what happens Saturday.
Michigan was always going to have to wait for after the College Football Playoff. DeBoer would have to be nuts to leave during a playoff run. If Alabama beats Oklahoma, that's it, regardless of whether there is mutual interest or not.
The Wolverines can't wait. They shouldn't wait for DeBoer, but public statements can't always be bought at face value. If Alabama wasn't worried, why push for an extension in year two?
It's not likely that DeBoer is the Michigan football head coach, but it still feels more likely than Kyle Whittingham or Eli Drinkwitz.