The group up front has taken a major step back this year under new offensive line coach Grant Newsome, a surprise given the continuity on staff and Moore’s history with the line. Injuries have played a part continuity-wise, a departure from recent years when the group seemed to work well together no matter who was in there.

The struggles Moore has endured were thrown into sharp relief again as he failed to outwit the 63-year-old Curt Cignetti, a seasoned coach who, in his first year in Bloomington, has led the Hoosiers’ remarkable transformation from perennial Big Ten also-ran to College Football Playoff contender.

If there were any lingering doubts, Michigan's 20-15 loss to No. 8 Indiana in Week 11 provided irrefutable evidence that Sherrone Moore is not the man for Michigan. His head-scratching and, frankly, unforgivable mistakes were the sole reason the Wolverines were not able to pull off the upset.