Inexperienced coaching and inept QB play are the headlines for Michigan’s loss at Illinois

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A bad season started to look even worse for the Michigan football team on Saturday as the Wolverines suffered their second straight loss with a 21-7 loss to Illinois. The loss, Michigan’s first against Illinois since 2009, dropped the Wolverines to their worst seven-game record since 2014 and, at the time, represented their third-worst single-season record in the last 50 years.

Below, we break down five things we learned about Michigan in the game, including thoughts on an inexperienced offensive coaching staff, a worsening quarterback problem, a bright spot and more.

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Michigan’s quarterback approach wasn’t its only offseason failure

For months, we’ve been discussing Michigan’s strange decision not to put a quarterback in the transfer portal. It was a surprise to us, even considering the timing of Jim Harbaugh and JJ McCarthy’s decisions, and it only looks worse in hindsight.

But after Michigan’s seven-point game against the Illini, its lowest-scoring game in more than a decade, it became clear to me that another decision by Sherrone Moore this offseason may have had a similar impact on Michigan’s offense: Why didn’t the Wolverines abandon their pedigree and bring in a more experienced player to help the offense?

Many reading this will laugh and say “duh,” especially after Saturday, but it’s an interesting debate and a more complicated one than the quarterback debate. On paper, Moore was Michigan’s offensive coordinator last season en route to a national championship and served as co-offensive coordinator in charge of the game in 2021 and 2022, so even with an outside hire, that’s likely to some extent Moore’s offense was .

The Wolverines may also have felt that quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell — beloved by JJ McCarthy, known within the program for his playing IQ and successful in his one year as quarterbacks coach — was ready for the promotion. Because continuity should always be the goal after winning a national title.

But when you zoom out, this is a particularly inexperienced offensive coaching staff, especially when it comes to on-field playing experience and FBS assistant coaching experience:

Moore – One season as offensive coordinator (Michigan), two seasons as assistant OC and offensive line coach (Michigan), nine seasons as tight ends coach (Louisville, Central Michigan, Michigan)

Campbell – Two seasons as offensive coordinator (Old Dominion), one season as quarterbacks coach (Michigan)

Grant Newsome – Two seasons as tight ends coach (Michigan)

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