The Michigan Wolverines could be in the market for several SEC coaches following their firing of head coach Sherrone Moore on Thursday following a wild off-field scandal we won't get too far into here. USA Today's Matt Hayes listed four in particular that Michigan could pursue:
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer, Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Clark Lea, TAMU Aggies head coach Mike Elko, and Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz.
Hayes believes the presence of Oracle CTO Larry Ellison in the Wolverines' brain trust could give Michigan a big opportunity to offer DeBoer a highly lucrative contract to leave Tuscaloosa for Ann Arbor.
"This is a bit touchy. He has a fantastic job, one of the top five in the game," Hayes prefaced before saying, "But if the Tide loses an ugly game at Oklahoma in the first round of the College Football Playoff, those dyed in houndstooth will get restless. And that’s never good.
"DeBoer signed an 8-year, $87 million deal in 2024, and Michigan would have to make it worth his while to leave. In other words, likely move him to the Kirby Smart/Lane Kiffin level of pay ($13 million plus annually).
"When your big booster is Oracle founder and billionaire Larry Ellison, anything is possible at Michigan. This will be, as much as anything, a comfort decision."
Ultimately, though, Hayes gave DeBoer a 15% chance of leaving Alabama if given a strong offer from the Wolverines, the lowest of the four. Hayes believes that one of the four has an 85% chance to take that deal, though, with the other three being below 40%.
Eli Drinkwitz given high odds to leave Missouri for Michigan
Hayes believes Drinkwitz is the true flight risk of the group, strongly believing there's a match between Missouri's headman and Michigan.
"There’s little doubt Drinkwitz is committed to what he’s building in Columbia, and has done a wildly underrated job of it," Hayes prefaced before saying, "But if Michigan starts flashing big salary numbers, it’s going to be difficult for Drinkwitz to say no to a Top 10 program and a private NIL structure that would dwarf what he’s getting at Missouri.
"Drinkwitz also recently signed a contract extension through 2031, one that averages $10.7 million annually. He’s a proven program builder (both high school and transfer portal recruiting), and has won 29 games in the past three seasons.
"And he has beaten Ohio State (in the 2023 Cotton Bowl)."
Wolverine fans probably wouldn't be thrilled with Drinkwitz, but his track record is a lot more exciting than his personality and his prevailing narratives across College Football let on.