ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Sherrone Moore stormed out of the tunnel with his Michigan football team Saturday afternoon with some extra exuberance.
The 39-year-old head coach is normally juiced up on a game day, engaging with fans while taking in the sights and sounds of Michigan Stadium. But this day and Michigan’s 24-10 win over Wisconsin marked the first time in four weeks that Moore could be on the sideline, the end of his two-game suspension this season for violating NCAA rules.
The penalty kept Moore from coaching Michigan’s Sept. 20 win over Central Michigan and its Sept. 27 win at Nebraska. He was allowed to return during the bye week, nearly a full two weeks before Saturday’s ceremonial return.
During his postgame news conference on Saturday, Moore jokingly referred to the suspension as feeling like “torture.”
“It wasn’t torture,” Moore said, quickly correcting himself. “Learning experience.”
Michigan (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) responded by winning its third straight game, led by some familiar faces while also breaking in some ones. Quarterback Bryce Underwood posted a new season-best, going 19 of 28 for 270 yards and a touchdown, while running back Justice Haynes went for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
In total, the Wolverines rushed for 175 yards against the nation’s No. 1-run defense, a unit that hadn’t allowed more than 72 yards in a game all season. Not only did Michigan more than double that, but Haynes was responsible for the longest carry allowed by the Badgers all season, for 43 yards.
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore greets fans after Michigan football defeated Wisconsin at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 4 2025.Jacob Hamilton“True players’ coach,” Haynes, who now has five straight 100-yard rushing games, said. “He coaches us hard, but he loves us even harder. I think that’s the biggest thing with coach Moore.”
Wide receiver Donaven McCulley also turned in his best game in a Michigan uniform, catching six passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. Not only was McCulley a big-play machine, his catches of 33 yards and 29 yards made him responsible for Michigan’s go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter.
Moore made sure to compliment McCulley for his big game and his smile, but the Indiana transfer made sure to let his coach know what he meant to him:
“We just felt his energy. That’s something that really helps us play the game,” McCulley said. “We try to win the games for him, for our head coach. Him being on the sideline helped us tremendously.”
Even the players on defense took note of Moore’s return. A former coach on offense, where he worked his way up from tight ends to the offensive line to play caller, Moore is just as engaged defensively these days.
“When the defense is on the field, I got a chance to see it personally when I wasn’t in the game,” defensive back TJ Metcalf said. “How locked in and focused he is, making sure we doing the right stuff out there.
“Same thing with the offense. He’s got a lot of energy out there. He’s that guy.”
Moore can now ride out the season with the Wolverines, who are off to a 4-1 start for a second straight season under his guidance. Last year saw Michigan lose four of its next five games before finishing on a strong note.
They’ll try and avoid that type of calamity this year, but it won’t be easy. On deck: A trip across the country to play Southern Cal next Saturday in Los Angeles.
And yes, Moore will be there.
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