ORLANDO, Fla. — During a preview of the Citrus Bowl game against Texas State at Schembechler Hall earlier this week, interim Michigan football coach Biff Poggi said the team only expected three players to opt out.
A few days later, on a podcast hosted by Longhorn icons Mack Brown and Vince Young, his tune changed. He hinted that as many as 25 players could miss the playoffs if a coach isn’t hired soon.
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The coaches were already in place, but Porgi would still coach the bowl game, and sure enough, nearly everyone was there at Michigan’s first bowl practice at West Orange High School. The Wolverines are only missing running back Justise Haynes and linebacker Ernest Houseman in addition to three players expected to opt out in Derrick Moore, Jeshawn Barham and Gio El-Hady.
Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) celebrates with running back Bryson Kuzdzal (24) after a second-half touchdown against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in College Park, Maryland.
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According to a team spokesman, Hausman has been dealing with “personal issues,” which also caused him to miss Michigan’s final two regular-season games. Haynes, meanwhile, broke his foot in late October and hasn’t played since, but is expected to join his teammates before the Citrus Bowl on Wednesday (3 p.m., ABC).
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UM has all but completely avoided the common phenomenon in the NCAA where players forgo bowl games outside of the College Football Playoff. But how do the Wolverines stay afloat amid chaos within their coaching staff?
“I feel like you can go one of two ways: We can either stay together or we can separate,” linebacker Cole Sullivan said. “I’m sure we don’t want to break up. It’s really the only option we have. And the camaraderie we have in the dressing room. We always tell each other we love each other. It’s not just talk.”
Players who spoke before Saturday’s practice also praised the remaining staff, led by Poggi, for keeping Michigan’s focus on the bowl despite their futures also being in flux.
New coach Kyle Whittingham will assemble a new team made up of people he already knows. So several current Michigan assistants this week may be headed elsewhere next month due to the nature of the business.
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Still, most stayed and continued to give their all to the team.
“[Once everything with former coach Sherrone Moore] This happens and it’s like ‘does it all go downhill from here? ‘ running back Bryson Kuzzar said. “I thought Biff was smart to come in right away – we didn’t really fall down at all. It was close, and then Biff made sure we were going in the right direction, so I don’t think we were down at all.”
Michigan State acting head coach Biff Poggi waves to fans during warmups at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Ann Arbor.
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Sullivan said it was a “challenge” to stay focused on the bowl game amid the social media noise, but the players knew they had to stick together. Sullivan said they were grateful to be together during what he described as an “emotional roller coaster” month.
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Additionally, he added, the desire to get a 10th win remains strong for the seniors and coaches.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen with these coaches, so we want to end this the right way for them,” he said. “Hopefully they’ll come back, but it’s something I can’t control…I pray for them every day.
“I’m delighted, I think they did a great job for us and I’m very grateful to them.”
A few days off for players during the holiday week seemed to rejuvenate the Wolverines into practice. For quarterback Bryce Underwood, it’s as simple as getting back into action.
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“Playing football is our joy,” he said. “Play our game and do whatever it takes to make us better, that’s what we’re going to do.”
Michigan linebacker Cole Sullivan (23) celebrates a second-half interception against Washington at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Ann Arbor.
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The crossover between the present and the future continues this week. Whittingham is scheduled to debut in Orlando on Sunday, and the importance of his arrival this week cannot be overstated.
The two-week transfer portal window will open to UM players on Thursday — five days after a new coach is announced and one day earlier than the regular portal window, per NCAA rules. This is a chance for players to hear directly from Whittingham about the future of the program.
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Michigan State brings its team together for the Citrus Bowl. Can it be done again this offseason?
“First and foremost, I just want to see what his vision is for the program,” Sullivan said. “I’ve heard he’s a blue-collar, hard-nosed, tough coach, and I think that’s what this program is built on. So I’m excited to hear that. I’m also excited to talk to him one-on-one and see what his vision is for me, for this defense, and then go from there.”
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines news writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared in the Detroit Free Press: Michigan Citrus Bowl football rally: ‘Don’t want to be divided’
