Michigan's new coach Kyle Whittingham is 'underrated'

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Many across the college football media landscape might be sleeping on Michigan football this upcoming season, but the coaches across the sport? They know what very well might be happening in Ann Arbor.

The Wolverines have as talented a roster as any team, but now with former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham leading the charge (instead of the, let's say, 'distracted' Sherrone Moore), there's a lot of upside about what the trajectory of the maize and blue entering 2026.

The Athletic's Bruce Feldman and Antonio Morales polled more than 25 coaches, assistants, and staffers across FBS-level college football, and when asked who was the most underrated hire in the sport, eight named Whittingham by Michigan as their choice. One assistant and one head coach were both quoted in the article, both praising what they envision Whittingham will do with the maize and blue.

Eight people answered Kyle Whittingham, who stepped down at Utah and replaced Sherrone Moore at Michigan. It’s clear that Whittingham made a strong impression during his two-decade tenure at Utah, where he won a Sugar Bowl and two Pac-12 titles and helped guide the program from the Mountain West to a consistent winner in the Power 4.

Pac-12 assistant: Kyle Whittingham at Michigan. That place is another one where you’re going to have everything you need. … You have that brand and he’s a proven winner. He’s done a tremendous job with a lot less. That was a Group of 5 program (at Utah).

Big 12 head coach: Kyle Whittingham. All he does is win. That guy is a proven winner. The only risk with him is he’s only been at Utah. So can it translate? He’s never coached five-stars. … Can you create that buy-in in today’s day and age?

Having come from Utah — a school that has excelled under Whittingham's guidance, but doesn't have a lot of star power in terms of players or brand recognition — it stands to reason that not many in the media are particularly hyped about what Michigan could be with him leading the charge. But note that the two coaches who were quoted played against his teams — one from his former Pac-12 conference and the Big XII.

The Big XII coach isn't wrong that it is a big question of whether his brand of football will translate from the Pac-12 and Big XII to the Big Ten, but given that Whittingham's brand is already quite evenly matched with what the Wolverines had built under Jim Harbaugh — toughness in the trenches with a strong running game and a pounding defense — it should be a match made in heaven.

We'll know more come 2 p.m. EDT on April 18 when the Wolverines host their annual spring game at The Big House. Spring ball is set to begin on March 17.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football's new coach is 'underrated' according to peers

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