Michigan
JUST IN: Michigan gets big boost at QB ahead of ReliaQuest Bowl
The quarterback picture for Michigan has been fluid in recent weeks, with two of the QB’s announcing they’d be entering the transfer portal. One of those quarterbacks to enter was Alex Orji. During his three year career in Ann Arbor, Orji appeared in 20 games at quarterback and made three starts during the 2024 season. But with Orji entering the portal, along with veteran QB Jack Tuttle announcing his retirement from the game during the season, there were real questions about Michigan’s QB depth heading into the Reliaquest Bowl against Alabama.
With the team now in Tampa to prepare for the matchup, a team spokesman confirmed to MLive that Orji did travel with the team and still intends on playing in the bowl game. Having Orji available is huge for a Michigan team that doesn’t have much depth or experience at the position at this point in the season.
Michigan QB Alex Orji is here in Tampa and planning to play in the ReliaQuest Bowl, team spokesman confirms to @MLive.
— Aaron McMann | MLive.com (@AaronMcMann) December 27, 2024
Although he’ll participate in the bowl game, the expectation is that Orji will still transfer in the near future. And given Michigan’s activity at that position in recent weeks (the signing of Bryce Underwood and landing veteran Mikey Keene out of the portal), it’s hard to see a scenario where Orji could make a meaningful impact at the position moving forward. There was some speculation that he may be open to making a position change, but any position he’d be moving to (tight end, linebacker, or even running back) already has guys who are well-established at the position.
But regardless of what happens in the future, there’s no question that having Orji available for the Reliaquest Bowl is huge for the Michigan Wolverines.
– Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI –
For additional coverage of University of Michigan athletics:
Michigan
EF-3 tornado moved through Southwest Michigan city, National Weather Service says
An EF-3 tornado moved through Union City, Michigan, during Friday night’s severe storms in the southwest part of the state, according to the National Weather Service.
The federal agency said three people were killed and 12 others were injured in the Branch County twister, which had a wind speed of at least 165 mph — just 1 mph shy of an EF-4 classification on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
Several homes in the area of Tuttle Road and Prairie Rose Lane were severely damaged by the twister, according to the agency.
Officials said Saturday that only a small portion of the tornado’s possible track has been assessed and that other details, including how far it went and how long it lasted, “will be released as they become available.”
The last EF-3 tornado that touched down in Michigan was in Gaylord in 2022.
A twister was reported in Three Rivers, Michigan, on Friday, though the National Weather Service hasn’t confirmed the report. Three Rivers is around 30 miles southwest of Union City.
Sheriff Clint Roach of Cass County, which is around 30 miles west of Three Rivers, said a 12-year-old boy, identified as Silas Anderson, was killed in Friday’s storms.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Saturday on social media that she would be declaring a state of emergency for Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties.
According to the Michigan State Police, the Salvation Army and the nonprofit Disaster Relief at Work were going door-to-door on Saturday with meals and cleaning supplies in Union City and Three Rivers.
Anyone who was impacted by Friday’s severe weather and needs resources is asked to call 211.
Michigan
Ex-Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore walks into court hand-in-hand with wife ahead of latest hearing
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Former Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore was spotted holding hands with his wife, Kelli, inside an Ann Arbor district court on Friday morning.
Moore is the subject of a criminal case after he was arrested shortly after being fired due to an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Soon after the firing, he was jailed after allegedly breaking into the staffer’s house and allegedly threatening to kill himself.
Prosecutors accused Moore of contacting the staffer via phone calls and texts after the breakup, prompting the woman to contact the University of Michigan and cooperate in its investigation. Moore was subsequently fired from his position as head football coach, which prosecutors said prompted him to show up at her home.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Kelli Moore, left, walks with her husband, former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore, and his attorney Ellen Michaels at the 14A-1 District Court in Ann Arbor on Friday, March 6, 2026. (Mandi Wright / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Moore then allegedly “barged” his way into the residence, grabbed a butter knife and a pair of kitchen scissors, and began threatening his own life. According to prosecutors, Moore allegedly told the staffer, “My blood is on your hands” and “You ruined my life.”
Moore’s wife also appeared in court in January.
Kelli called 911 over concerns the former Michigan coach was “going to hurt himself” after getting “fired from his job.”
Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore appears in the courtroom, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Moore and the alleged victim had an “intimate relationship for a number of years,” a prosecutor said during an initial hearing shortly after his arrest, but had broken up earlier this week.
The alleged mistress did not have her contract with the university renewed, the school confirmed to Fox News Digital earlier this week.
Moore, if convicted, faces more than half a decade behind bars, which would certainly further damage any hopes he may have of getting back on the sidelines.
Moore went 16-8 as Michigan’s head coach, going 8-5 in year one and then 7-3 this past season. He missed a pair of games due to a suspension from the sign-stealing investigation into the school.
Sherrone Moore’s booking photo was obtained by Fox News Digital on Dec. 18, 2025. (Washtenaw County Jail)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Moore replaced Jim Harbaugh after the team completed a 15-0 season en route to a national championship — Moore was the offensive coordinator of that squad.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj and Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter
Michigan
No. 8 Michigan State beats Rutgers 91-87 before closing regular season at No. 3 Michigan
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Jeremy Fears had 21 points and eight assists and Coen Carr also scored 21, helping No. 8 Michigan State hold off Rutgers 91-87 on Thursday night.
The Spartans (25-5, 15-4 Big Ten) will close the regular season on the road against rival and third-ranked Michigan on Sunday.
Michigan State has won five straight games to secure a top-four seed in next week’s Big Ten Tournament and a double-bye into the quarterfinals.
The Scarlet Knights (12-18, 5-14) have slumped toward the bottom of the 18-team conference.
Rutgers’ Tariq Francis scored 25 points, Lino Mark had 14 and Emmanuel Ogbole added 13.
Michigan State trailed by a point at halftime and took control with an 11-0 run. Carr dunked three times in 1:13 and Jordan Scott followed with a slam 32 seconds later.
The Spartans had a comfortable cushion until the final minute, when their 10-point lead was trimmed to two. Fears sealed the win with two free throws with 2.9 seconds left.
Jaxon Kohler scored 15 points and Carson Cooper added 14 in the final home game for both seniors.
Michigan State celebrated its seniors after the game, including Nick Sanders, son of Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions.
The school honored a military veteran, as it does every game before the national anthem is played, and the latest was Kohler’s 102-year-old great grandfather, Earl “Chuck” Kohler, who served in the Navy and is one of 12 remaining survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack.
Up next
Rutgers: Host Penn State on Sunday.
Michigan State: At No. 3 Michigan on Sunday.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
-
Wisconsin6 days agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts5 days agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Maryland7 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Florida7 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Oregon1 week ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling
-
Pennsylvania2 days agoPa. man found guilty of raping teen girl who he took to Mexico
-
News1 week ago2 Survivors Describe the Terror and Tragedy of the Tahoe Avalanche
-
Education1 week ago
After F.B.I. Raid, Los Angeles School Board Discusses Superintendent