Michigan's Rod Moore Gets Sixth Year, Returns in 2026

Rod Moore, a two-time All-Big Ten safety and two-time captain for the Michigan Wolverines, has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA and will return to the team for the 2026 season. The program announced the news on social media Thursday night, providing a significant boost to the defensive secondary amid recent roster changes.

Moore's return comes after a challenging period marked by injuries. He missed the entire 2024 season following a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained during spring practice. In 2025, lingering effects from the injury and a subsequent meniscus issue limited him to three games. He made his season debut at Nebraska, recorded an interception against Wisconsin the following week, and started at USC, where he tallied four tackles before sidelining himself again due to complications. Despite these setbacks, Moore preserved his redshirt eligibility that year and was voted team captain for the second straight season by his teammates.

The 6-foot, 198-pound defensive back from Dayton, Ohio, has been a standout when healthy. As a freshman in 2021, he appeared in 11 games with four starts, recording 32 tackles and sharing the team's defensive...