ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel reported Wednesday that Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz is among a group of leading candidates to become Michigan’s next head coach.
Drinkwitz is currently focused on preparing Mizzou for Saturday night’s Gator Bowl matchup against Virginia in Jacksonville. Since taking over the program in 2020, he has guided the Tigers to a 46–28 record, highlighted by back-to-back double-digit win seasons in 2023 and 2024.
Missouri enters the bowl game with an 8–4 record, but Thamel noted the Gator Bowl could potentially mark Drinkwitz’s final game with the Tigers. He also identified Washington head coach Jedd Fisch and former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham as top candidates to replace Sherrone Moore, who was dismissed two weeks ago. Whittingham announced on Dec. 12 that he would step down after two decades leading Utah.
Speaking on Get Up, Thamel said Michigan has held preliminary discussions with several coaches and has narrowed its focus to three “gettable” candidates. He added that a hiring decision is not expected before Christmas or immediately afterward.
For now, Drinkwitz remains set to lead Missouri in the Gator Bowl, while Michigan’s coaching search continues to unfold.
BREAKING:ESPN Insider Identifies Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz as a Top Candidate for Michigan Head Coaching Vacancy
