Michigan's rivalry with Ohio State has a new front: finances. Before Sherrone Moore even took the head coaching job, the Wolverines crossed a massive $50 million benchmark, turning the tables on their biggest competitor in a way that signals a major shift in the Big Ten.

The 2023 season for the Michigan Wolverines brought with it major changes. Michigan football ticket sales reached $50.3 million before Moore became head coach of the team in January 2024.

The revenue came from the Michigan Wolverines football team playing their home games at "the Big House," the largest college football stadium in the United States.

The average attendance was about 110,000 per home game, which exceeded the attendance numbers of both Penn State and Ohio State. 

The new Big Ten television deal, which generated around $50 million in media rights revenue, contributed to Michigan achieving a record $238.9 million operating revenue.

Soon, for the 2024 season, the transition came swiftly for Sherrone Moore. After serving as offensive coordinator, Moore was officially elevated to head coach of the Michigan Wolverines in early 2024.

The new head coach is stepping into the spotlight following Jim Harbaugh’s departure to the Los Angeles Chargers

Eventually, the same man who helped build the Michigan Wolverines' financial peak couldn't survive his own off-field decisions.

The Wolverines achieved their highest football ticket revenue of $67.6 million in the 2024-25 season, surpassing their previous record, beating out Ohio State again, who were close behind at $67 million.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, though, the program Moore briefly led will now continue under a new Head Coach.

Michigan Wolverines’ New Era Under Whittingham

Kyle Whittingham has taken over the program with his experience of over two decades in Utah. His overall 177-88 record speaks for itself.

At 66, Kyle Whittingham stated he is ready for the duration of his five-year deal with the Michigan Wolverines. He also brings a proven pedigree, having turned fortunes around just last year.

After a rough Big 12 introduction, the Utah Utes football flipped the script in a big way.

Under Kyle Whittingham, Utah surged to an 11–2 record in 2025, including a 10–2 regular season before falling short in the conference title game. Still, this was a sharp turnaround from their underwhelming 5–7 debut campaign the year prior.

The Michigan Wolverines will certainly be eager for a run at the CFP in 2026 as they search for stability again.

Read more at the Michigan Football Community

Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote