Michigan Wolverines football interim head coach Biff Poggi is keeping the program together as it prepares to face Texas in the Dec. 31 Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., while simultaneously getting ready for next season amidst the uncertainty that comes with a coaching search, following the firing of Sherrone Moore.

Since Moore’s firing Dec. 10, Michigan has seen one player announce that he’s planning to enter the NCAA transfer portal when it opens Jan. 2, sophomore quarterback Jadyn Davis. The Wolverines have had two 2026 signees leave the class in offensive lineman Bear McWhorter and tight end Matt Ludwig. So far, only three Wolverines have opted to leave the team before the bowl game against the Longhorns, all to prepare for the NFL Draft, in senior EDGE Derrick Moore, senior linebacker Jaishawn Barham and graduate left guard Giovanni El-Hadi.

“We have three guys opting out who are going into the NFL,” Poggi said in a press conference Monday morning. “That’s really it. What’s going into it, what’s gone into it and what’s keeping the guys on this current team here and what’s keeping the guys who are committed to us, committed to us, is a lot of relationship building. I’ve had eight Zoom calls with parents and even two Zoom calls with the moms. It’s just a lot of listening, a lot of talking to them, a lot of talking to the kids.

“And we’ve changed basically everything in the last 10 days. We’ve changed basically everything. Meetings are much shorter, kids are out of the building faster, practices are much shorter but much more up-tempo, much more good versus good work.

“You need to talk to them, but I think they’re actually having fun playing football again, and I’m really proud of them and proud of the coaches who are here who have stayed here to do this.

“I’ve gotten a lot of support from [director of athletics] Warde [Manuel], a tremendous amount of support from Warde and [U-M athletics chief of staff] Doug [Gnodtke]. It’s been a team effort, but it’s been different. There’s no manual for this. I mean, I’ve never had to figure this one out, but very pleased with where we are and what’s going on.”

NIL collectives for college football programs around the country are working on deals for current and prospective players, and Michigan’s is no different despite the uncertainty.

“Here’s the thing about the transfer portal: Everybody thinks it opens the 2nd,” the Michigan coach said. “It doesn’t. Deals are being done now, OK? They’re being done now.

“So, we’ll know for sure who’s in and where they’re going on the 2nd, but not only with Michigan but every school, big school in the country, those deals are getting done right now.”

Poggi is a candidate for the full-time head-coaching job, having had multiple interviews, and having players sticking by his side could be a feather in his cap.

Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood is one to watch since he was one of the most highly coveted recruits in recent history, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 class. Poggi was asked if the 6-foot-4, 228-pounder is planning on returning for next season.

“I certainly hope so. I would hope so, yeah,” the Michigan coach replied. “If you want to ask that question, you should probably ask him or his dad or mom.

“But we’re focused on Texas right now. He’s focused on Texas. Have you seen any film on Texas? They’ve got a bunch of monsters on their football team, so that’s what we’re focused on. That’s what Bryce is focused on. We’re not focused on who’s going to go where next year.”

How could one focus on next season when things are such in flux?

“Hell, I might not even be here next year,” Poggi added. “You never know, so I’m not thinking about that.”