The search for the next leader of the Michigan Wolverines is officially underway following the dismissal of Sherrone Moore earlier this week. With a search firm actively vetting potential replacements and a committee forming to evaluate candidates, the process is expected to move quickly to secure a hire before the transfer portal window closes.

While no consensus favorite has emerged, speculation is heating up regarding who might take the reins of the college football powerhouse.

The vacancy in Ann Arbor has been described as a unique opportunity, with analysts noting the program’s massive potential despite recent turmoil. On a recent episode of Josh Pate’s College Football Show, the host likened the Michigan job to an “oil field” that hasn’t been properly drilled, suggesting that the right hire could unlock immense resources and passion.

“I’m just telling you, from a passion, energy, and resource standpoint in the new age, no one’s really drilled deep at Michigan yet,” Pate said. “When you do, money is flying all over the place. It’s there.”

As the vetting process continues, different factions within the university likely have their preferred options. Pate noted that while there is a rush to find a replacement, the administration is focused on getting the decision right rather than simply filling the position. “I don’t think there’s a favorite for this job yet,” Pate said. “What that doesn’t mean is there may not be factions or pockets of people that have their preferred candidate.”

Josh Pate identifies SEC coach as candidate to watch

While high-profile names often dominate the headlines, Pate pointed to Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz as a name to monitor closely. “Eli Drinkwitz, I think, is a dark-horse name,” Pate said, suggesting the 42-year-old coach could be a surprising but logical fit for the Wolverines.

Drinkwitz has built a steady winner in the Southeastern Conference, accumulating a 46-28 record over six seasons in Columbia, including 29 wins in his last three years.

The suggestion comes despite Drinkwitz recently signing a significant extension with Missouri. On Nov. 28, he agreed to a six-year, $64.5 million contract that raised his salary to $10.75 million annually.

However, the allure of the Michigan job could prove difficult to ignore. According to a recent report from the Associated Press, the search firm retained by Michigan has already contacted representatives for Drinkwitz, signaling genuine interest from the Big Ten program.

Pate argued that looking back, Michigan fans would likely view such a hire as a major victory. “Translation: when the dust settles and you’ve hired your new coach and he gets his staff in there and you’ve got your roster for 2026, you’re going to look at it and say, ‘Yep, I much rather take this than whatever the alternative was,'” he said.

During this conversation about the Michigan job, Pate also highlighted Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham as his favorite choice for the position.

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Last updated Dec. 15, 2025

JACOB RODRIGUEZ, #10, LINEBACKER, SENIOR

National Awards

• Chuck Bednarik Award Winner

  • Presented to the best defensive player in college football

• Lombardi Trophy Winner

  • Honors the nation’s top college linemen and linebackers who reflect Lombardi’s enduring principles of leadership, integrity, and perseverance

• Bronko Nagurski Trophy Winner

  • Presented to the National Defensive Player of the Year

• Pony Express Award Winner (w/ David Bailey)

  • Honors college football’s most-outstanding teammate duo, regardless of position

• Butkus Award Winner 

  • Presented each year to the most impactful linebacker in college football

• Walter Camp National Player of the Year Finalist

  • The only defensive player among the five finalists tabbed for the player of the year award

• Heisman Trophy Top 10

  • Finished fifth on the Heisman ballot; owned top finish among all defensive players and held fourth-most first-place votes

All-America Teams

• Associated Press All-America First Team
• Walter Camp All-America First Team
• USA TODAY Sports CFB All-America First Team
• On3 All-America First Team
• The Athletic All-America First Team
• Sporting Illustrated All-American: First Team
• CBS Sports College Football All-America First Team
• PFF All-America Team

Additional Honors

• Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team
• Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
• PFF Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
• PFF All-Big 12 Team
• Dave Cambell’s Texas Football Defensive Player of the Year
• Dave Cambell’s Texas Football All-Texas College First Team
• Panini Senior Bowl Game Invitee
• Big 12 Championship Defensive Player of the Game
• Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
• All-Big 12 First Team
• Chuck Bednarik Award Finalist
• Butkus Award Finalist
• Lott IMPACT Trophy Finalist
• Bronko Nagurski Finalist
• Lombardi Award™ Finalist
• Walter Camp National Player of the Year Semifinalist
• Bednarik Award Semifinalist
• Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 11)
• Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 11) 
• Chuck Bednarik Player of the Week (Nov. 11)
• Lott IMPACT Trophy Semifinalist
• Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 10)
• Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 10)
• Shrine Bowl Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 10)
• Butkus Award Semifinalist
• Lombardi Award™ Semifinalist
• Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 3)
• The Athletic Midseason All-America Team
• Sporting Illustrated Midseason All-America Team
• Sporting News Midseason All-America Team
• Lombardi Award™ Midseason Watch List
• Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Semifinalist
• First-Team Midseason DCTF All-Texas CFB Team
• CBS Sports Midseason All-America Team
• William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
• Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week (Sept. 24)
• Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 23)
• Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 23)
• Senior Bowl National Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 23)
• Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 22)
• Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
• Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team

DAVID BAILEY, #31, OLB, SENIOR

National Awards

• Pony Express Award Winner (w/ Jacob Rodriguez)

  • Honors college football’s most-outstanding teammate duo, regardless of position

• Lombardi Trophy Finalist

  • Honors the nation’s top college linemen and linebackers who reflect Lombardi’s enduring principles of leadership, integrity, and perseverance

• Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist

  • Presented to the best defensive player in college football

All-America Teams

• Associated Press All-America First Team
• Walter Camp All-America First Team
• USA TODAY Sports CFB All-America First Team
• Sporting Illustrated All-American: First Team
• On3 All-America First Team
• The Athletic All-America First Team
• CBS Sports College Football All-America First Team
• PFF All-America Team

Additional Honors

• Associated Press Big 12 First-Year Transfer of the Year
• Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team
• PFF All-Big 12 Team
• Dave Cambell’s Texas Football All-Texas College First Team
• Panini Senior Bowl Game Invitee
• Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year
• Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year
• All-Big 12 First Team
• PFF National Team of the Week, EDGE (Nov. 10)
• Lombardi Award™ Semifinalist
• The Athletic Midseason All-America Team
• Sporting Illustrated Midseason All-America Team
• Lombardi Award™ Midseason Watch List
• Midseason DCTF Defensive Player of the Year
• First-Team Midseason DCTF All-Texas CFB Team
• CBS Sports Midseason All-America Team
• PFF Pass Rusher of the Week (Oct. 13)
• PFF Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 13)
• PFF National Team of the Week, EDGE (Oct. 13)
• Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 13)
• Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team

TERRANCE CARTER JR., #7, TE, JUNIOR

DAVION CARTER, #56, OL, SENIOR

• Associated Press All-Big 12 Second Team
• All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
• Bruce Feldman’s College Football Freaks List (No. 88)

JOHN CURRY, #6, LB, SOPHOMORE

• All-Big 12 Honorable Mention

CAMERON DICKEY, #8, RB, SOPHOMORE

• Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team
• Dave Cambell’s Texas Football All-Texas College First Team
• All-Big 12 Second Team
• Doak Walker Award Semifinalist
• Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, Player of the Week (Nov. 11)
• Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 10)
• Walter Camp National Offensive Player of Week, Wk. 7 (Oct. 14)
• Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week, Wk. 7 (Oct. 14)
• Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, Player of the Week (Oct. 14)
• First-Team Midseason DCTF All-Texas CFB Team (Oct. 13)
• PFF National Team of the Week, RB (Oct. 13)
• Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 13)

CALEB DOUGLAS, #5, WR, SENIOR

• Panini Senior Bowl Game Invitee
• All-Big 12 Second Team
• East-West Shrine Bowl Breakout Off. Player of the Week (Nov. 3)

COY EAKIN, #3, WR, JUNIOR

• Big 12 Championship Offensive Player of the Game (Dec. 6)
• All-Big 12 Honorable Mention

TRISTIAN GENTRY, #21, WR, FRESHMAN

• PFF All-Freshman Team, Return Specialist

STONE HARRINGTON, #48, K, JUNIOR

• Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team
• All-Big 12 First Team
• Lou Groza Award Semifinalist
• Lou Groza Award Week 11 Star of the Week (Nov. 11)
• Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov. 10)
• Burlsworth Trophy Nominee (Nov. 4)
• Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov. 3)
• Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week (Oct. 6)

ROMELLO HEIGHT, #9, OLB, SENIOR

• Associated Press All-Big 12 Second Team
• PFF All-Big 12 Team
• Dave Cambell’s Texas Football All-Texas College Second Team
• Panini Senior Bowl Game Invitee
• All-Big 12 First Team
• Sporting Illustrated Midseason All-America Team
• First-Team Midseason DCTF All-Texas CFB Team
• PFF National Team of the Week, EDGE (Oct. 13)

A.J. HOLMES JR., #33, DL, JUNIOR

All-America Teams

• Associated Press All-America Second Team
• On3 All-America Second Team
• PFF All-America Team

Additional Honors

• Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team
• PFF All-Big 12 Team
• All-Big 12 Third Team

LEE HUNTER, #2, DL, SENIOR

All-America Teams

• Associated Press All-America Third Team
• USA TODAY Sports CFB All-America Second Team
• Sporting Illustrated All-American: Second Team
• The Athletic All-America First Team
• CBS Sports College Football All-America Second Team

Additional Honors

• Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team
• PFF All-Big 12 Team
• Dave Cambell’s Texas Football All-Texas College First Team
• Panini Senior Bowl Game Invitee
• All-Big 12 First Team
• The Athletic Midseason All-America Team
• CBS Sports Midseason All-America Team
• First-Team Midseason DCTF All-Texas CFB Team
• Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team

BEHREN MORTON, #2, QB, SENIOR

• All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
• Davey O’Brien Great 8: Week 3 Performace
• Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee

BRICE POLLOCK, #14, DB, JUNIOR

• Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team
• PFF All-Big 12 Team
• Dave Cambell’s Texas Football All-Texas College First Team
• All-Big 12 First Team
• Second-Team Midseason DCTF All-Texas CFB Team
• Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 15)

JACOB PONTON, #70, OL, REDSHIRT FRESHMAN

• The Athletic: Freshman All-America Team
• All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
• Second-Team Midseason DCTF All-Texas CFB Team

BRYCE RAMIREZ, #3, LB, SENIOR

• All-Big 12 Third Team-Specialist

BEN ROBERTS, #13, LB, JUNIOR

• Big 12 Championship Game – Most Outstanding Player (Dec. 6)
• All-Big 12 Third Team

HOWARD SAMPSON, #79, OL, JUNIOR

• PFF All-Big 12 Team
• Dave Cambell’s Texas Football All-Texas College First Team
• All-Big 12 Third Team
• Bruce Feldman’s College Football Freaks List (No. 80)

REGGIE VIRGIL, #1, WR, SENIOR

• Panini Senior Bowl Game Invitee
• All-Big 12 Honorable Mention

J’KOBY WILLIAMS, #20, RB, SOPHOMORE

National Awards

• Paul Hornung Award Finalist

  • Presented annually to the most versatile player in major college football

Additional Honors

• PFF All-Big 12 Team
• Dave Cambell’s Texas Football All-Texas College Second Team
• All-Big 12 Third Team-Returner
• All-Big 12 Honorable Mention-Running Back
• Week 9 Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll (Oct. 28)
• Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week (Oct. 27)

SHERIDAN WILSON, #76, OL, JUNIOR

COLE WISNIEWSKI, #5, DB, SENIOR

• All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
• Comeback Player of the Year Award Semifinalist

Oregon State athletics’ NIL management deal with Blueprint Sports has been terminated, the university confirmed to The Oregonian/OregonLive on Monday.

The controversial deal — the terms of which faced scrutiny from media and fans amid the resignation of Brent Blaylock, the former OSU deputy athletic director who negotiated it — was mutually agreed to be terminated effective Dec. 8.

“Blueprint will retain the $280,000 management fee that OSU paid for the 2025-2026 contract year, but OSU will not make any additional payments to the company,” a university spokesperson said in a written statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive. “Within 30 days of termination, Blueprint will transfer to OSU all net proceeds stemming from NIL activity under the contract, including 100% of net revenues from memberships and/or subscriptions. Those proceeds will be placed in OSU Athletics’ revenue sharing account to benefit Beaver student-athletes.”

Effective with the termination, Dam Nation — acquired by Blueprint as part of the deal — will no longer serve as OSU’s NIL collective and won’t have any official affiliation with the school, OSU said. But all donations made to Dam Nation under Blueprint’s control are required to be surrendered back to OSU by Blueprint under the terms of the contract.

After news of the Blueprint deal being wound down, Dam Nation co-founder and former Oregon State athletics general manager Kyle Bjornstad re-filed the LLC’s annual report on Nov. 5 in order to prevent its administrative dissolution, he said. His plans going forward with the name are as of yet unclear.

“The LLC’s annual report, which all Oregon LLCs must file, was due in September,” Bjornstad told The Oregonian/OregonLive. “Because the transfer of the ‘Dam Nation Collective’ name was not — and has not been — completed, I filed the annual report to prevent administrative dissolution of the LLC. While my LLC still has the ‘Dam Nation Collective’ name, it is not involved in providing NIL opportunities to Oregon State student-athletes.”

OSU athletics said fans can continue to support individual OSU athletes through the Woodshop Exchange, and Oregon State Athletics through gifts to Our Beaver Nation.

“Moving forward, we will continue to pursue revenue sharing and NIL efforts within the department and through the OSU Foundation and Beaver Sports Properties,” OSU’s statement reads. “More details – including a possible new option for fans interested in membership subscriptions – will be forthcoming in the next few months.”

Whatever OSU ends up deciding in terms of NIL-related memberships for everyday fans, NIL will make up a smaller piece of the pie when it comes to compensating student-athletes. OSU athletic director Scott Barnes said in an October Q&A with The Oregonian/OregonLive that revenue sharing — for which OSU can raise up to a $20.5 million cap as determined by the House settlement — is the far bigger pot to draw from.

The Beavers are unlikely to come close to the cap, however. Their revenue sharing budget is not publicly known. This is not unique to OSU, as most schools including the biggest spenders like Oregon do not disclose their revenue share and NIL budgets.

OSU is set to bring in former Alabama assistant director of player personnel Eron Hodges to manage NIL deals and recruiting specifically for football. His exact title and responsibilities have not been made public, nor have OSU’s specific plans for allocating athlete payments toward other sports.