Michigan's new head coach pours cold water on Ohio State rivalry: 'Hate is a strong word'

Michigan HC Sherrone Moore has been fired due to an "inappropriate relationship" with a staff member and their zero tolerance policy. Colin Cowherd reacts to the news and asks what this means for Michigan’s future.

Kyle Whittingham may not know it yet, but despite being on the sidelines for two Rose Bowls, he will be coaching the most important game of his life in November.

After 22 seasons with Utah, Whittingham made the move to Ann Arbor to take over the Michigan Wolverines following Sherrone Moore's firing.

It's a whole new world for Whittingham, with Michigan's rivalries perhaps stronger than any Utah has had.

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Michigan Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham smiles as he walks off the field at the conclusion of the Michigan spring football game on April 18, 2026, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

And of course, there's arguably the best rivalry in all of sports with Ohio State.

Whittingham, though, is not focused on the Buckeyes just yet.

"I haven't learned really much more than I already knew. It's a national game. Everybody knows about it. It's 'The Game' as we call it. It's of great importance to both sides, obviously. But I'm an old-school coach. We got 11 games that we play before that, so we're not going to get ahead of ourselves," Whittingham said at Big Ten Media Day this week.

"Make no mistake, I understand the implications that it has... Very well-versed in what it means, the intensity of it, the national allure that it has. Our players are the same. I mean, everybody knows that that game's looming out there. I think the best-case scenario comes down to that 12th game. That's for all the marbles in