Michigan football head coach Kyle Whittingham waves at the crowd as he is being introduced on the floor during the first half between Michigan and USC at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.

May 30, 2026, 11:00 AM CUT

Kyle Whittingham Earns Major Praise From IndyCar Driver Ahead Of Detroit Grand Prix

This Sunday, Kyle Whittingham will be strapped into a race car doing laps around downtown Detroit before the Grand Prix even starts.

IndyCar series driver Graham Rahal is one of the loudest Ohio State fans. He grew up in Ohio. Buckeyes football is basically a religion for him. Still, he told reporters something most Ohio State fans would never say in public.

"Honestly, I really, I hate to say this, but I've always had a tremendous amount of respect for Kyle Whittingham," Rahal said Friday. "I mean, now I can't cheer for him anymore, but when he was in Utah, he did a hell of a lot of good for a long time."

Apr 18, 2026; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham gives remarks following the spring game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images

Whittingham was picked to ride in the Fastest Seat in Sports on May 31 ahead of the NTT IndyCar Series Detroit Grand Prix. The two-seater leads the field to the green flag before the race gets going at 12:30 p.m.

Rahal also pointed out the strange dynamic of Whittingham being mentored by Urban Meyer, the man who went 7-0 against Michigan as Ohio State's head coach.

"Obviously, I know Coach Meyer quite well, and Kyle's really his understudy. That's got to be a weird dinner conversation nowadays," Rahal said. "But I would love to meet him, and so hopefully I'll get the chance this weekend, because I've always respected what he's done."

Then Rahal went somewhere unexpected. He brought up Sherrone Moore and did not hold anything back.

"I will say I wasn't a fan of the way Sherrone Moore handled himself," he said. "I thought there was a lot of arrogance even amongst the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry. I never felt that way about Harbaugh. There always has to be that mutual respect, and it just felt like some of that was lost under Sherrone."

Coming from a Buckeye fan, that is a significant thing to say. Rahal was not just praising Whittingham. He was drawing a clear line between what Michigan had become and what he hopes it will be again.

Whittingham Built His Name Over 21 Years at Utah

Long before Michigan came knocking, Whittingham spent 21 seasons at Utah building one of the most consistent programs in the country. He went 177-88 with the Utes, taking over after Urban Meyer left for Florida and never really looking back.

Michigan brought him in last December after firing Moore, who the university said had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. Whittingham signed a five-year deal and got to work straight away.

Whatever happens this season, Whittingham has already started changing the way people outside Michigan see the program.

What do you think about Whittingham's early impression on the college football world? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore