Since taking over, Michigan Wolverines’ head coach has been navigating a whirlwind, from an emotional win over Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl to an intense QB1 battle that has Ann Arbor buzzing. Sherrone Moore doesn’t do chaos—he thrives on it. But just when he thought his biggest concern would be deciding between Bryce Underwood, Mikey Keene, and Jayden Davis, a different controversy came knocking. The fallout from Michigan’s heated flag-posting brawl win over Ohio State in November had been simmering for months, but today, the verdict finally dropped. And let’s just say it’s as messy as the game itself.
According to reports from two Ohio agencies, law enforcement officials were justified in their use of pepper spray—and even a taser on a 300-pound lineman—when breaking up the postgame brawl between Michigan and Ohio State players. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office couldn’t confirm which agency deployed the spray first, but conflicting reports suggest both a University of Michigan officer and a Franklin County deputy acted almost simultaneously. The rationale? Officer safety.
Ohio State University Police Detective Douglas Cunningham detailed the chaotic scene in his report, emphasizing that officers were overwhelmed by “large, highly trained, and skilled Division I football athletes in full football game attire.” Cunningham described players as having “the advantage in both size, strength, conditioning, and protective gear, and they outnumbered the police presence trying to suppress the growing threat.” In short, law enforcement saw Michigan’s celebration turn into an uncontrollable force—and decided force was the only way to handle it.
While Michigan fans might still be digesting that verdict, Sherrone Moore is focused on something he can control—his quarterbacks. The battle for QB1 has been a hot topic all offseason, and in a sit-down interview on Next Up with Adam Breneman, Moore made it clear he’s in no rush to make a decision. “I feel like we’re in a really good place with the quarterbacks,” Moore said, refusing to name a starter ahead of spring ball.
“Obviously, you know, I’ll really start with Mikey, a transfer from Fresno, really great player, and you watch the cut-ups of, you know, Coach Lindsey showing us things from different places he’s been, and also Mikey shows up on different cut-ups, and the dude can really spin. He’s thrown for over 8,000 yards in his career and had, I think, the third-highest adjusted completion percentage in college football last year.” If experience is the deciding factor, Keene has the edge. But he’s not the only one in the mix.
Jayden Davis, the highly touted recruit who has been in Michigan’s system, is making a strong case for himself. “Jayden Davis is a guy that just keeps getting better,” Moore said. “He was a high-ranked quarterback coming out of high school, and he’s here.” But of course, the wild card in all this is the No. 1 recruit in the nation, Bryce Underwood. A generational talent with a ceiling is expected to make Ann Arbor shake. “And then obviously you have Bryce, who’s an immense talent,” Moore added. “So we’re in a really good place, and I’m not going to make any predictions on what it is or who it is or make comments… we’ll let it out in spring and fall camp and see what happens.” It’s the ultimate poker move—keeping all options open while keeping the competition hungry.
For now, Michigan is balancing two realities—the high of a program on the rise under Moore’s leadership and the weight of a controversy that won’t go away quietly. The postgame chaos wasn’t just a black eye for Moore and Ryan Day‘s rivalry; it’s become another chapter in the ongoing war between the two schools. The players, as Cunningham noted, had physical advantages, but did that justify the level of force? That’s a debate that won’t end anytime soon.
Sherrone Moore, though, is keeping his eyes on the future. The biggest battles aren’t behind him—they’re right in front of him. He has a QB1 decision to make.
Bryce Underwood Hype Makes Michigan’s Playoff Path a ‘Layup’
Michigan fans haven’t even seen Bryce Underwood take a snap in Ann Arbor, but that hasn’t stopped the hype train from leaving the station at full speed. And On3’s J.D. PicKell? He’s all aboard.
PicKell fully believes in Underwood’s potential, even though the Wolverines’ schedule features eight of their nine Big Ten matchups against non-College Football Playoff teams. And given how things are shaping up, a 10-2 or 11-1 record should be enough to secure a playoff spot next season.
“The playoff is going to expand in 2026,” PicKell pointed out. “There’s going to be some automatic [conference] spots given to the Big Ten Conference; it looks like it’ll be four [teams], and then you get Bryce Underwood for two more years. Michigan’s not playing around. To me, it will be a layup for Michigan to be a playoff team just about every single year.”
In other words, Sherrone Moore and his squad are set up for long-term success. And if PicKell’s right, that “layup” might just turn into a slam dunk for the Wolverines.
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