Kyle Whittingham didn’t plan to make a move on Jason Beck right away. One more look at the tape changed everything.
After Michigan’s 15-6 loss to Michigan State, Whittingham initially intended to wait until the end of the season before deciding Beck’s future as offensive coordinator. But after reviewing the film, he decided the change had to happen immediately, and Michigan fired Beck on Sunday before installing offensive line coach Jim Harding as interim OC.
“When I turned the film on and really dove into it, it just became apparent to me that we needed to make the change now,” Whittingham said Monday. “There was just too much regression in the offense in that particular game, and that was what led to the decision.”
The numbers from that game backed up the frustration. Michigan managed only 192 total yards, with 75 of them coming on a fourth-quarter touchdown drive after the outcome was already decided.
The Wolverines are 5-4 overall and 2-4 in Big Ten play, and the offense never found much traction under Beck. In nine games as coordinator, Michigan scored fewer than 20 points six times and cleared 30 points only once, in a 52-17 win over UTEP.
Beck’s exit also brings a costly ending to a high-priced hire. He arrived with one of the most lucrative offensive coordinator deals in college football: a three-year contract worth $9.15 million, a $1.74 million signing bonus and $3.1 million in guaranteed retention bonuses. If he receives the full value of the contract, Michigan will wind up paying him $14 million for nine games, minus whatever he earns in his next job.
Whittingham said the call was his and his alone.
“It was not easy,” Whittingham said. “I’ve had to do it before.
That’s the nature of the business. I owe it to the program to do what’s best for the program.”
Beck had come to Michigan after a one-year turnaround at Utah, bringing an offense built around pre-snap motion, unusual formations, gadget plays and the quarterback run game. Michigan leaned on a returning core that included quarterback Bryce Underwood, running back Jordan Marshall and wide receiver Andrew Marsh, along with wide receiver JJ Buchanan, who transferred from Utah.
But the results never matched the plan. Underwood has thrown five touchdowns and six interceptions and lost the starting job to freshman Tommy Carr, though Whittingham said the Wolverines will revisit that decision this week before Saturday’s game at Oregon. Marshall has also seen his production dip sharply; he had two carries for 4 yards against Michigan State and has 323 rushing yards this season while averaging 3.7 yards per carry, after going for 932 yards and 6.2 yards per rush last year.
The criticism around Beck’s offense had been building for weeks. Fans pointed to the heavy use of a sixth offensive lineman, the “rhino,” and the lack of a consistent downhill run game. Whittingham shared some of those concerns during the season and also took issue with certain play calls, including a roll-out pass near the goal line that ended a chance at a touchdown in a low-scoring game against Indiana.
He also admitted Monday that the offense hadn’t been adjusted enough to fit the players on hand.
“You can’t just say, ‘Here’s what we’re doing on offense, period. We’re not gonna be flexible.
We’re going to be very rigid,’” Whittingham said. “You’ve got to be able to adapt to your personnel, and we just didn’t do a good job of that this year.”
Harding, a veteran offensive line coach who served as Utah’s co-offensive coordinator under Whittingham in 2015-16, will take over for the stretch run. Whittingham said the Wolverines are not going to tear everything down with three games left, and the path to bowl eligibility is still narrow: Michigan needs one win in its final three against Oregon, UCLA and Ohio State.
“You can’t do major changes at this juncture,” Whittingham said. “There will be a few new wrinkles, but to say it’s a complete overhaul, that’s not how it is.”
In Other News...
Tigers Suddenly Have A Chance To Change Their International Reputation
The Tigers have spent more aggressively in the international market lately, and their recent meeting with Japanese pitching prospect Shoki Oda is another sign they want to be part of that conversation. Oda, an 18-year-old high school arm, is drawing attention from a long list of MLB suitors, with clubs such as the Dodgers, Phillies, Mets, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Astros and Yankees all reportedly in the mix as he weighs a jump to the majors.
For Detroit, the interest goes beyond one player. Landing Oda could give the Tigers a rare foothold with Japanese amateurs at a time when more prospects are at least considering skipping Nippon Professional Baseball altogether. If the Tigers can turn that increased spending into a signing like this, it would say something about how they want to be viewed internationally, not just at home in the AL Central. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Suddenly Have One Offseason Health Question They Can't Ignore
Scott Harris used the GM Meetings to give a clearer picture of where several injured Tigers stand heading into the winter, and the updates offered a mix of relief and concern. Reese Olson is still working back from right shoulder surgery done in February 2026, with Harris describing the recovery as start-and-stop but encouraging overall, while Will Vest has come through two surgeries for a stress fracture in his elbow and a hip issue and is expected to be ready for spring training.
Kerry Carpenter may be the most important name in the group because this offseason is about more than simply getting healthy. He was limited by plantar fasciitis in 2026, but Harris said he is healthy now, and the bigger question is whether the Tigers can count on him for a more durable, full-time role next season. For a club trying to sort out its roster and its depth, that kind of health check matters just as much as any transaction. [Read more 🡒]
Raisel Iglesias Could Be The Bullpen Answer Tigers Fans Need
The Tigers moved on from Kenley Jansen after a season that left too many late innings hanging in the balance, and the search for a steadier back-end option has already started to take shape. Jansens numbers trended the wrong way across the board, and his struggles in high-pressure spots only sharpened the need for Detroit to find a reliever who can shorten games instead of extending them.
Raisel Iglesias fits that profile better than most names on the market. He has been one of the more durable and dependable closers in the game, and his 2026 season backed that up with strong save totals and solid pitching metrics, even if there are still some questions about how much hard contact he allows. The catch for any team chasing him is the likely contract length, since his age figures to keep offers in the two-year range. [Read more 🡒]