ORLANDO, FL — Athletic director Warde Manuel introduced Kyle Whittingham as Michigan football’s 22nd head coach in program history on the second story of the Hyatt Regency Hotel on International Drive in Orlando on Sunday, Dec. 28

It was an unusual setting for such a moment, but then again this has been an unusual month for the Wolverines. They began a search for their new coach shortly after Dec. 10 – the day Sherrone Moore was fired after U-M was presented with “credible evidence” of an inappropriate relationship with a staffer.

Manuel discussed the matter – which culminated with an arrest and multiple charges – for the first time Sunday. He called it difficult personally, but something that he had no hesitation about doing professionally.

ANALYSIS: Michigan football and Kyle Whittingham match made in heaven on paper

“Listen man, it’s hard,” Manuel said. “It’s hard when you have a colleague that is going through something personally, professionally, in his family and [knowing the] people and impact that it has on so many staff, student-athletes and the Michigan community.

“Personally, I’ve known him for seven or eight years, so it was difficult to see him, as a person, go through what he went through. But professionally, it was an easy decision to make because of the expectations that we have for everyone on our side.”

Moore was arrested hours after he was fired from U-M for allegedly breaking into the staffer’s home and threatening to kill himself, according to a police report.

While it was by far the most dramatic scene, in the eyes of many, it was simply the latest negative headline for the Michigan athletic department.

As a result, Michigan brought in outside law firm Jenner & Block to conduct a review into Moore’s situation and the athletic department at large. Manuel told reporters it was in part his idea – something he brought up to interim president Domenico Grasso as an effort to understand how everybody can improve.

MUST-READ: How Michigan’s culture melted under Sherrone Moore

“There’s not much I can say. There’s an investigation continuing into coach Moore, there’s a cultural evaluation around the department and so we will we obviously know some facts,” Manuel said. “There’s some things that are out there that I can’t comment on, that are untrue, and there may be some things that they find, but that’s why we do an investigation, and I’m very open to that. Wanted the cultural analysis to be done to help us get better.

“I asked the President to help with a cultural analysis and have somebody come in. So yes, I am very supportive of that, because as a leader, I face reality. There are things that happen. I don’t step away from it. Never have, never will. So we need to get better, and that’s part of is getting somebody to come in and to assess.”

Whittingham, for his part, was not deterred by the optics of instability in Ann Arbor. U-M is likely weeks away from naming a new president, and Manuel’s job security has also been called into question.

Whittingham said he didn’t know the details, but that he believes that his job is to focus on what goes on in Schembechler Hall and allow others to figure out what’s next.

This season’s Michigan wrestling lineup features a new face in every place. 

Yes, there are new starters in all 10 weight classes, including five who had never wrestled a dual in a Wolverines’ singlet before this season. 

Despite all the turnover, the Wolverines are off to a 4-2 duals start and placed second in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational earlier this month, their best showing in seven years. In all, six Michigan wrestlers are ranked among the top 20, including two who are in the top 10. 

And that’s with 2024 All-American and four-time NCAA qualifier Dylan Ragusin not making his season debut until last Saturday’s Kent State Holiday Open.

“Every year you get a new set of guys in your lineup — this year we have a lot — but the standard is the same,” Wolverines coach Sean Bormet said. “By the time we hit the mat to compete, we’ve spent months together with this team preparing them for the season and building toward putting the best 10 guys on the mat. We’ve had success with recruiting the right guys, adding the right transfers, developing them and building great team chemistry.”

Beau Mantanona and Dylan Gilcher are the only Wolverines who started a majority of last season’s duals who are doing so again this season, albeit in new weight classes after bumping up.

Mantanona, a redshirt sophomore and 2025 NCAA qualifier, has moved from 165 to 174 and is 10-3, including four pins and two technical falls. Currently ranked #12, his best wins thus far have come against two-time NCAA qualifiers M.J. Gaiten (Iowa State) and Cael Valencia (Arizona State). 

Gilcher, ranked #30, has jumped from all the way from 149 to take Montanona’s former spot and is 7-3, including three technical falls and a major decision, and one of five Wolverines who have gone 5-1 in duals. 

The redshirt sophomore decisioned three-time NCAA qualifier Maxx Mayfield (Missouri) during last month’s National Duals.

Gilcher, ranked 30th, made the 2025 NCAA Championships field and is well on his way to bettering last season’s 10-12 record. 

Brock Mantanona (184) and Cam Catrabone (157) are also wrestling at higher weight this season.

Mantanona, a redshirt freshman, spent last season down at 165 and won all three dual matches he started before redshirting. He has adjusted well to his new weight, boasting a 9-2 mark, including 5-1 in duals. He has two technical falls and three major decisions and is ranked eighth.

Mantantona has edged three-time NCAA qualifier, 2025 All-American and 2023 Big Ten champion Silas Allred (Nebraska) and majored two-time NCAA qualifier Brian Soldano (Oklahoma). 

Catrabone, also a redshirt freshman, has bumped up from 149 and is 8-4. All but one of his victories have come via pins (four), technical fall (two) or major decision (one). He began the season unranked and is now #15. 

Catrabone and Beau Mantanona are tied for the team lead in pins. NCAA qualifiers Colton Washleski (Virginia) and Stoney Buell (Purdue) did not last one period against Catrabone, who is 4-2 in duals after going 1-2 last season before redshirting. 

“With a handful of guys going up one or in some case two weight classes, we’ve focused on training them for that and getting them consistent with their nutrition to maintain the weight they need and to take advantage of additional training and energy output that cutting less weight provides over the course of the season,” Bormet said. “That requires toughness, discipline and consistency and buying into the process of gains and growth. They’ve been doing a good job.”

Of the starters who had not started a dual for the Wolverines prior to this season, 2024 All-American heavyweight and four-time NCAA qualifier Taye Ghadiali has clearly made the biggest impact, returning to form after being limited to six matches last season and redshirting due to injury. 

Back in his home state after spending six seasons at Campbell, the Warren Fitzgerald graduate and 2019 state champion is off to an 11-2 start, including 5-1 in duals. Ghadiali, ranked #6, is the Wolverines’ leader in dual points (25) and bonus-point wins with nine, including five technical falls, three major decisions and a pin. 

Ghadiali, who owns a 113-30 career record with 71 bonus-point victories, intends to give Michigan an All-American heavyweight for the seventh straight season and the 10th time in 12 seasons, joining Josh Heindselman (2025), Lucas Davison (2024), Mason Parris (2020-23) and Adam Coon (2015-16, 2018). 

His best career wins have come against All-Americans Owen Trephan (Lehigh) and Tate Orndorff (Ohio State). 

“Taye has brought great energy and just a great personality to our team and he’s a good leader,” Bormet said. “He immediately fit in with the other guys when he arrived during the summer and came in with a lot of gratitude and it’s easy to just pour yourself into it with that mindset. I think he’s appreciated the additional resources and training partners he’s had here.”

Bormet is also quick to credit the growth experienced at Campbell for how he has performed in Ann Arbor. 

“(Campbell coach) Scotti Sentes really helped cultivate a great work ethic in Taye and we’ve seen that and his passion here from day one,” he said. “Our guys all respect that.”

Ghadiali is one of three transfers in the starting lineup along with seniors Diego Sotelo (125) and Lachlan McNeil (149).

Sotelo, a two-time NCAA qualifier for Harvard, is 9-3, including 5-1 in duals, with two technical falls and a major decision. He has a 64-37 career mark. He has climbed to #18 in the rankings. 

Sotelo’s best wins are decisions over two-time All-American Anthony Noto (Lock Haven) and All-American Jore Volk (Minnesota). 

McNeil, a three-time All-American at North Carolina, has gone 7-3 (5-1 in duals) with a pin and a major decision. He owns an 89-28 career record, including 51 bonus-point wins. 

McNeil, #16 in the rankings, boasts some eye-opening wins, including over three-time All-Americans Brock Hardy (Nebraska) and Real Woods (Iowa) and two-time All-American Dylan D’Emilio (Ohio State). He has beaten seven other All-Americans. 

Sophomore Hayden Walters has stepped into the starting role at 197 in his third season with the program. Walters is 4-2 overall and in duals thus far with a pair of major decisions. He defeated NCAA qualifier Brock Zurawski (Rider) last season.

“We have a young team for the most part, so we’ve been monitoring and placing extra emphasis on consistency in their approach, mindset, technique and presence on the mat,” said Bormet, whose team kicks off Big Ten duals Jan. 9 against Michigan State. “We’re doing a lot of teaching and helping the guys build up some mental endurance. They have responded well and their hunger and determination will dictate their further progress.” 

Ragusin, who is expected to make his dual debut against the Spartans, wrestled a competitive match for the first time in more than a year with a 2-2 showing at Kent State, good enough for fourth place at 141 pounds. He has moved up to that weight after four seasons at 133. 

Ragusin won his first six matches last season before suffering a knee injury during the 2024 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and dropping his last three matches of the tournament. The injury required season-ending surgery. 

He is working to regain the form that has led to an 87-32 career record with 36 bonus-point victories. 

Ragusin’s best season came in 2023-24 when he placed fifth at the NCAA Championships, second in the Big Ten Tournament and finished with a 28-4 record, including 14 bonus-point wins.

His most significant wins have come against two-time NCAA champion and three-time All-American Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) and two-time All-Americans Patrick McKee (Minnesota), Sam Latona (Virginia Tech) and Chris Cannon (Northwestern). 

“Dylan has been back on the mat training hard for about nine weeks and we’re excited to get him back into our lineup,” Bormet said. “As Dylan’s been back on the mat this semester, we have really seen his determination and drive ramp back up, and he’s made good, continual progress to get back to his best wrestling.”

Lemley Takes Another Tourney

Sergio Lemley, a two-time NCAA qualifier, is redshirting this season, but staying sharp by wrestling in open tournaments. 

The junior, who has also moved up from 141 to 149 pounds, captured his second tournament title of the season with a first-place finish at the Kent State Holiday Open. Lemley went 5-0, knocking off Kent State’s Silas Stits, 8-1, in the championship match. 

Lemley, who also won the Michigan State Open last month, is 8-0 this season with three pins and a major decision. 

Lemley racked up a 42-20 record his first two seasons in Ann Arbor with half of his wins coming via technical fall (13), major decision (five) or pin (three).

Also at Kent State, redshirt junior Codei Khawaja went 3-1 to finish third at 184, outlasting Kent State’s Trent Thomas, 16-9, in the third-place match. He is 7-1 this season and has improved his career record to 25-14. 

A contingent of Wolverines will compete at the Midlands Tournament hosted by Northwestern on Dec. 29-30. 

ORLANDO, FL − For Michigan football, one of the strangest months in recent memory has now bumped up against its bowl game, which is generally supposed to be a fun event. Sometimes, it’s the crowning achievement of a season; others, it’s just one final chance to take some momentum into the offseason.

Michigan (9-3) has arrived in Orlando and will begin practice on Saturday, Dec. 27, for its Citrus Bowl matchup with Texas (9-3), a game between two blue-blood programs that few in the Michigan circle are actually focused on.

The team is led by interim coach Biff Poggi after Sherrone Moore was fired earlier this month for an alleged inappropriate relationship with a staffer and subsequently arrested for breaking into her house and threatening to kill himself in the ending to a disappointing two years at the helm.

Grading the hire: Kyle Whittingham an upgrade for Michigan, just not a home run

It all forced the Wolverines to conduct a tough coaching search at an awkward time, one that eventually led to the hiring of longtime Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, who spent Friday in Las Vegas telling his Utes he won’t coach their bowl game. Instead, he was heading down to the Sunshine State to begin making relationships and working on roster retention with his new group.

He signed a five-year deal reportedly worth $8.2 million annually with 75% of his contract guaranteed.

Fitting with the bizarre timeline of it all, Whittingham is expected to be formally introduced at a news conference at a hotel ballroom in Orlando, instead of the typical pomp and circumstance at Michigan’s facilities.

It’s obviously a situation Michigan never wanted to be in. Just like the Citrus Bowl, a nice end-of-season landing spot, but not the College Football Playoff. Texas opened the 2025 season as the No. 1 team in the nation, while Michigan needed to just knock off Ohio State in the final game to be considered. Instead, each side now seeks a 10th win to make their final record look more respectable.

For U-M, it would be the program’s fourth 10-win season in five years, a feat not achieved since the days of Bo Schembechler.

Michigan wasn’t expecting a ton of opt-outs for this game. Poggi said Monday the three expected were edges Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham (both of whom have already declared for the NFL draft) and offensive lineman and captain Gio El-Hadi (who is also likely to declare soon).

On a Texas-based podcast called “The Stampede,” shortly before Christmas, however, Poggi said he wouldn’t be surprised if that changed by this weekend.

“I have to tell you with what’s going on with those here now, we sent them home for Christmas yesterday and, you know, I think there’s a really good chance that we’re going to have many more opt-outs for the game, unfortunately,” Poggi said. “Because we’re in such a state of flux. … (players may feel like) ‘Why do I want to, you know, play in that game?’ And so I can see some of that happening too. And I would tell you on the 26th, we’re probably going to have a significantly different roster than we had yesterday when we sent them home.”

Exactly who has made the trip will become clear Saturday, when the media gets to speak with a handful of team-selected players and observe the first 15 minutes of practice at West Orange High School, just a few miles west of Orlando.

Co-offensive coordinator Steve Casula will call plays after Chip Lindsey left to take the same job at Missouri earlier this month. But for many coaches, this could be the final time they coach at Michigan. It all depends on who Whittingham selects for his new staff.

So with one eye on the future, Michigan is doing its best to stay in the present. There are bowl activities, such as kids day at the Fun Spot America theme park on the schedule, as well as a handful of practices, news conferences and a pep rally the day before the game.

Michigan had a bit more stability Saturday than it did 48 hours ago, now knowing who will usher U-M into the 2026 season. But the 2025 season feels like it’s headed to a strange and anticlimactic conclusion.

Justice Haynes not with Michigan for first Citrus Bowl practice

All signs point to star running back Justice Haynes not playing for the Wolverines in the Citrus Bowl against Texas in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday, Dec. 31 (3 p.m., ABC).

As the Wolverines started their first bowl practice in Winter Garden, Florida, Haynes was not with the team, though a program spokesperson told the Free Press he’s expected to fly down and join the team later. He has not 100% been ruled out, but the likelihood of him suiting up appears low.

He’s eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft after three years in college, and considering he’s coming off surgery, the downside appears to severely outweigh the upside of playing in the Citrus Bowl.

Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.