While many Michigan football fans were moaning and groaning about the hire of Kyle Whittingham as the team’s 22nd head coach, level heads prevailed in many ways. Especially among the pundits in the national media.

With everything that has gone on in Ann Arbor in recent weeks, months, and years, it’s generally been a layup for the national media to pile onto anything involving the Wolverines, yet with Kyle Whittingham joining the program, the voices that have tended to be vicious have been significantly more sanguine, if not outright praiseworthy.

Now, Fox Sports’ premier color commentator, Joel Klatt, isn’t exactly one who has spewed venom in Michigan’s direction at any time in recent memory, but of course, the Wolverines had to get the head coaching choice right. And in his eyes, this was a home run hire for the maize and blue.

“All of a sudden, they land on Kyle Whittingham. And I got to tell you, this is an incredible fit,” Klatt said. “And I, for one, assumed that he was just done coaching. Listen, I’ve had several conversations with Kyle over the years. And you guys, you’ve listened to some of the shorts, and you’ve listened to this podcast, I’m sure — before, you’ll know that I think he is a wonderful coach and he’s got the highest integrity. I love the way that his teams play. I love the way that he talks about his players because he talks about them with love. He cares for his players. My highest compliment that I can ever repay is that, hey, I would love my sons if they ever played college football to go play for Kyle Whittingham. I still feel that way.”

Klatt doesn’t just think this is a home run hire, but it may be a championship-winning one.

He’s often shared how Utah is undervalued in the grander college football landscape, as Utah wasn’t ever really a premier program, yet, under Whittingham, it’s often been a top 15 team or better. Given that the Utes haven’t had the Wolverines’ resources, he believes (or at least believes that Whittingham believes) that the combination of forces could have a special outcome if everything goes right.

“He is a winner. He’s going to go to the Hall of Fame. And now he’s going to go to Michigan because he looks at this as an opportunity to actually go out there and compete for a national championship,” Klatt said. “He didn’t say this verbatim, but I think that there is an underlying thing here of like, OK, like you can do it there. Whereas at Utah, I always felt like it was an uphill climb, whereas at Michigan, you can do it. You can go win a national title. They are funded. They’ve got everything that they need. Not that Utah doesn’t, but it’s an uphill battle. And he would know that uniquely so because he spent 30-plus years there. All right.

“So he goes there, and he says, ‘Michigan is a special place.’ He says, ‘A legitimate opportunity to win a national championship.’ He says, ‘It’s happened here. So I looked at it as a final challenge.’ So it makes sense for him as well. I got to tell you, like at the risk of throwing out old takes exposed here: this seems like a tremendous fit. This seems like a home run because it checks off all of these boxes, all of these challenges. And I didn’t think that that was possible to be honest with you.”

Whittingham has taken over the program, but he won’t truly be coaching the team until after the Wolverines’ Cheez-It Citrus Bowl turn on December 31 against Texas.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Joel Klatt calls Kyle Whittingham an ‘incredible fit’ at Michigan

Texas A&M’s 2025 season may have ended prematurely after losing to Miami 10-3 in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Still, given that the transfer portal opens on Friday, head coach Mike Elko and his staff will be able to make significant headway with several veteran additions as soon as it opens.

Already connected to a handful of intriguing prospecs on both sides of the ball, Monday’s shocking news that sophomore Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman, one of the top players in all of college Football, who also happens to be a former Texas A&M commit, entered his name into the transfer portal, and will likely receive a huge payday where ever he chooses to go.

Just months before former Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher was fired, Coleman, who initially committed to the Aggies on July 4, 2023, ultimately chose to stay close to home and play for the Tigers, but after head coach Hugh Freeze was fired at the end of the 2025 season, the Alabama native made a business decision that surprised all of us.

However, Auburn’s poor quarterback play and the unknown future at the position under new head coach Alex Golesh are likely the primary reasons Coleman is looking to play elsewhere in 2026. Just a couple of hours after Coleman’s announcement, On3 insider Pete Nakos stated that, according to sources, Texas A&M and the Texas Longhorns are the early schools to watch for Coleman’s commitment.

Outside of the obvious A&M connection, both destinations make perfect sense given the quarterback situations, as Marcel Reed finished his first full starting season with 3,169 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. In comparison, Texas QB Arch Manning completed his first year as the starter with 2,942 yards and 24 touchdowns during the regular season.

“Texas and Texas A&M are two clear early schools to watch for Coleman, sources have told On3. Both have returning starting quarterbacks, giving Coleman proven passers to work with. Sources have told On3 that landing somewhere with a proven starting quarterback is something the wide receiver is evaluating during the process.”

Furthermore, Texas A&M is losing star wideout KC Concepcion to the NFL Draft, while the Longhorns’ second-leading wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. also entered the transfer portal.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M is named an ‘early contender’ for star WR Cam Coleman

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Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

Trae Young is in limbo these days with a $49 million player option for next season, which the Hawks have some indirect control over. 

No, they don’t control the option, but their unwillingness to give him an extension allows them to pivot toward budding star Jalen Johnson, who has become the best player on the team. 

In essence, the Hawks have to ask themselves whether Young is the worth the salary slot, or if they can use it in a more optimal manner, further dedicating themselves to Johnson and Dyson Daniels, who was the Most Improved Player last season. 

The evolution of Nickeil Alexander-Walker isn’t making the situation any easier, as he’s broken out this season, averaging 20.3 points while acting as a defensive playmaker alongside Daniels.

So what should the Hawks do? Let’s break it down:

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Identifying needs and building a plan 

So, what type of player should the Hawks target, if Young should move on? And by all accounts, the Hawks are open to facilitate that process on their own. 

The need for a point guard would still be present, yet the player will need significant off-ball capabilities to optimize floor spacing around Johnson. 

Given the large contractual hold, it also allows Atlanta to seek improved bench depth, preferably prioritizing wing depth and 3-point shooting. 

Could the Hawks make a play for Chicago’s Ayo Dosunmu as a third guard, or lean into Naji Marshall from the Dallas Mavericks? 

Both would be upgrades that could help push them into the postseason. It might appear as the Hawks are thinking small, and obviously the compensation level should far exceed both Dosunmu and Marshall, but the idea that Atlanta doesn’t need a heliocentric floor leader remains a solid one. 

Perhaps, then, it becomes a question of direction as opposed to identifying specific players. 

Assuming Johnson, Alexander-Walker and Daniels are the current core, with the asset from the Pelicans pick being added to that pool, the Hawks could focus on the summer of 2026 and beyond, as opposed to chasing a playoff spot this year. 

Would they instead be willing to flip Young for a number of expiring contracts and draft picks, kicking the can down the road a year? 

It’s a tough balance, especially considering how well Johnson and Alexander-Walker are performing this season. 

But therein lies the potential sacrifice. 

While there are no guarantees Alexander-Walker will ever have a season like this again, Johnson is sure to develop even further. If the Hawks identify the 2026 summer as their turning point, perhaps they’d be willing to risk Alexander-Walker’s season as being a one-off and not capitalizing on it for the sake of the long-term vision. 

Of course, that leaves some open-ended questions in regard to one of their youngsters. 

The idea of moving off Zaccharie Risacher is weird

It has been reported the Hawks are open to moving off Zaccharie Risacher, last year’s top draft pick, due to his lack of development. 

First off, it’s undeniably true that the 6-foot-9 wing hasn’t developed further. If anything, he’s regressed and is showing some concerning signs of being an NBA enigma. 

(Risacher is grabbing just 2.9 rebounds per game, isn’t a playmaker and maintains only modest scoring efficiency, but has the physical tools to keep teams enticed for probably a decade.) 

Moving off Risacher makes sense if the Hawks are trying to win now. But realistically, any attempt to do so would be awkward if Young feels as though his exit is pending. 

It’d be additionally awkward if they acquire a player like Anthony Davis, who they’re apparently interested in, and he becomes unavailable due to immediate injuries — which is something they need to take into account given his history. 

Finally, relinquishing Risacher in a trade when his value is arguably at its lowest is never a smart business move. 

You don’t buy at $9, sell at $4.25 and consider yourself a winner. 

His situation might be frustrating for the Hawks, but if they choose to go the long-term route, they have far more incentive to hang onto him, at least until summer. 

Risacher can work with Johnson, and he should be able to work with a new super rookie, if Atlanta ends up landing a high pick via New Orleans. 

There simply shouldn’t be a rush to push Risacher out the door. 

Which direction should the Hawks choose? 

It’s easy to stand outside the window and make calls on the behalf of others, but logic dictates patience. 

Johnson turned 24 just 11 days ago, so there’s a bit of runway here to build something without wasting his prime years. 

Moving off Young and shopping him to teams in dire need of a star might be the right call, as long as Atlanta secures either young players with a few years left on their rookie deals, or draft equity as part of the compensation package. 

Given that Atlanta is enjoying great contractual value from Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu (the duo earns just $30.1 million this year, combining for over 36 points and 10 rebounds per game), they’re also not in any rush to pivot off them. 

In fact, the Hawks have somewhat clean books, a stable situation in regard to young players and a valuable incoming pick in a strong draft. 

If that isn’t enough incentive to at least explore the long-term outlook this summer, nothing is. 

Trae Young is in limbo these days with a $49 million player option for next season, which the Hawks have some indirect control over. 

No, they don’t control the option, but their unwillingness to give him an extension allows them to pivot toward budding star Jalen Johnson, who has become the best player on the team. 

In essence, the Hawks have to ask themselves whether Young is the worth the salary slot, or if they can use it in a more optimal manner, further dedicating themselves to Johnson and Dyson Daniels, who was the Most Improved Player last season. 

The evolution of Nickeil Alexander-Walker isn’t making the situation any easier, as he’s broken out this season, averaging 20.3 points while acting as a defensive playmaker alongside Daniels.

So what should the Hawks do? Let’s break it down:

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Identifying needs and building a plan 

So, what type of player should the Hawks target, if Young should move on? And by all accounts, the Hawks are open to facilitate that process on their own. 

The need for a point guard would still be present, yet the player will need significant off-ball capabilities to optimize floor spacing around Johnson. 

Given the large contractual hold, it also allows Atlanta to seek improved bench depth, preferably prioritizing wing depth and 3-point shooting. 

Could the Hawks make a play for Chicago’s Ayo Dosunmu as a third guard, or lean into Naji Marshall from the Dallas Mavericks? 

Both would be upgrades that could help push them into the postseason. It might appear as the Hawks are thinking small, and obviously the compensation level should far exceed both Dosunmu and Marshall, but the idea that Atlanta doesn’t need a heliocentric floor leader remains a solid one. 

Perhaps, then, it becomes a question of direction as opposed to identifying specific players. 

Assuming Johnson, Alexander-Walker and Daniels are the current core, with the asset from the Pelicans pick being added to that pool, the Hawks could focus on the summer of 2026 and beyond, as opposed to chasing a playoff spot this year. 

Would they instead be willing to flip Young for a number of expiring contracts and draft picks, kicking the can down the road a year? 

It’s a tough balance, especially considering how well Johnson and Alexander-Walker are performing this season. 

But therein lies the potential sacrifice. 

While there are no guarantees Alexander-Walker will ever have a season like this again, Johnson is sure to develop even further. If the Hawks identify the 2026 summer as their turning point, perhaps they’d be willing to risk Alexander-Walker’s season as being a one-off and not capitalizing on it for the sake of the long-term vision. 

Of course, that leaves some open-ended questions in regard to one of their youngsters. 

The idea of moving off Zaccharie Risacher is weird

It has been reported the Hawks are open to moving off Zaccharie Risacher, last year’s top draft pick, due to his lack of development. 

First off, it’s undeniably true that the 6-foot-9 wing hasn’t developed further. If anything, he’s regressed and is showing some concerning signs of being an NBA enigma. 

(Risacher is grabbing just 2.9 rebounds per game, isn’t a playmaker and maintains only modest scoring efficiency, but has the physical tools to keep teams enticed for probably a decade.) 

Moving off Risacher makes sense if the Hawks are trying to win now. But realistically, any attempt to do so would be awkward if Young feels as though his exit is pending. 

It’d be additionally awkward if they acquire a player like Anthony Davis, who they’re apparently interested in, and he becomes unavailable due to immediate injuries — which is something they need to take into account given his history. 

Finally, relinquishing Risacher in a trade when his value is arguably at its lowest is never a smart business move. 

You don’t buy at $9, sell at $4.25 and consider yourself a winner. 

His situation might be frustrating for the Hawks, but if they choose to go the long-term route, they have far more incentive to hang onto him, at least until summer. 

Risacher can work with Johnson, and he should be able to work with a new super rookie, if Atlanta ends up landing a high pick via New Orleans. 

There simply shouldn’t be a rush to push Risacher out the door. 

Which direction should the Hawks choose? 

It’s easy to stand outside the window and make calls on the behalf of others, but logic dictates patience. 

Johnson turned 24 just 11 days ago, so there’s a bit of runway here to build something without wasting his prime years. 

Moving off Young and shopping him to teams in dire need of a star might be the right call, as long as Atlanta secures either young players with a few years left on their rookie deals, or draft equity as part of the compensation package. 

Given that Atlanta is enjoying great contractual value from Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu (the duo earns just $30.1 million this year, combining for over 36 points and 10 rebounds per game), they’re also not in any rush to pivot off them. 

In fact, the Hawks have somewhat clean books, a stable situation in regard to young players and a valuable incoming pick in a strong draft. 

If that isn’t enough incentive to at least explore the long-term outlook this summer, nothing is.