Kyle Whittingham’s Michigan Era Begins with a Clear Message: Physicality, Retention, and a Fresh Start
Kyle Whittingham has officially taken the reins at Michigan, and if his first few days on the job are any indication, he’s wasting no time setting the tone. Before diving into the transfer portal or recruiting new faces, Whittingham is focused on something even more critical: keeping the talent already in Ann Arbor.
His first sit-down? None other than Bryce Underwood, Michigan’s freshman quarterback and the top-rated recruit in the 2025 class. Underwood has already racked up over 2,500 yards of total offense this season and is set to lead the Wolverines into Wednesday’s Citrus Bowl showdown against Texas.
Whittingham spent 45 minutes with Underwood in a meeting that was more about listening than lecturing.
“I did a lot of listening,” Whittingham said. “I wanted feedback from him, I wanted to get to know him. Everything from growing up, family, what’s important to him - it was a great conversation.”
Whittingham didn’t hold back on his praise for Underwood, calling him a “special young man” and highlighting the intangibles that separate good quarterbacks from great ones.
“He’s got that ‘it’ factor. Big, strong kid. 6-foot-4, 225-plus pounds. His ceiling is very high, and the offense we’re going to bring in here - I think it’ll suit him to a T.”
Underwood, for his part, sounded intrigued by his new head coach.
“Very excited to figure out what kind of guy he is,” Underwood said ahead of their meeting. “I don’t really know too much about him. I’m just excited to figure out what kind of guy he is.”
As for his future beyond the bowl game, Underwood kept things open-ended, saying he’ll “figure it out” with his family after the season wraps.
While Whittingham is still rounding out his staff, reports indicate he’s targeting Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck to join him in Ann Arbor. That would be a significant pickup. Beck helped engineer one of the most potent offenses in the country this season - Utah finished second nationally in rushing at 269.7 yards per game and fifth in scoring with 41.1 points per contest.
That kind of production aligns perfectly with Whittingham’s offensive philosophy, which he laid out in no uncertain terms.
“Spread. We’re going to base it out of the spread,” he said.
“Eleven personnel will be our base. We’re going to run the football efficiently.
The only people in the same category as us [at Utah] were the service academies - Air Force, Navy. Otherwise, I believe that if you can run the football effectively, everything happens off of that.”
It’s a style that could bring out the best in Underwood, who showed flashes of dual-threat ability in his first Big Ten season. He completed 61.1% of his passes for 2,229 yards, with nine touchdowns and six interceptions, while also proving dangerous on the ground.
Whittingham’s track record with mobile quarterbacks speaks for itself. Utah starter Devon Dampier rushed for 687 yards and seven touchdowns this year, while freshman backup Byrd Ficklin added 503 yards and 10 scores on just 56 attempts. That kind of quarterback run game could be a major asset for Underwood as he continues to develop.
If Underwood returns, he won’t be alone. Michigan is expected to bring back a strong offensive core, including standout running back Jordan Marshall, multiple key linemen, and wide receiver Andrew Marsh. That continuity, paired with Whittingham’s system, could make for a dangerous unit in 2026.
But Whittingham isn’t just here to install a scheme - he’s here to reset the culture. After the program’s recent turmoil and the firing of Sherrone Moore, Michigan needed a stabilizing force. Whittingham, who went 177-88 at Utah, brings exactly that.
“What you can expect? Physicality will be our calling card,” he said.
“We were the most physical team in whatever league we played in. I believe in running the football and defending the run.
If you can win the line of scrimmage, be physical up front, you’ve got a chance to win every game.”
For Whittingham, Michigan was one of the few jobs he would say “yes” to. Now that he’s in Ann Arbor, he’s making it clear that the Wolverines won’t just be tough - they’ll be built to dominate the trenches.
The Kyle Whittingham era has begun, and it’s starting with a handshake, a conversation, and a promise: Michigan football is going to be physical, focused, and ready to fight for every inch.