Michigan heads into Saturday’s road game at Oregon with a season that has gone off the rails, and the matchup on paper doesn’t offer much comfort. The Wolverines were supposed to be in the College Football Playoff conversation, but instead they’ve spent the year living on the edge, nearly toppling ranked Iowa and Indiana, needing a Hail Mary to escape Western Michigan, and then getting embarrassed by Michigan State last week.
That loss to the Spartans stung for more than one reason. Michigan State was hardly at full strength, yet it played like the team that wanted the rivalry more.
The Wolverines, meanwhile, looked flat in a game that should have brought out their best. Kyle Whittingham has dismissed Michigan’s rivalries and trophy games, even saying there are no trophy games left, though Ohio State remains the biggest game on the schedule even without hardware attached.
Whittingham also took a shot at Oregon’s ability to pay players, a strange comment from a Michigan head coach with a $12 million quarterback on the bench after his hand-picked offensive coordinator fell flat. Michigan is headed for more than $10 million spent on an offense that sits outside the top 130, and now Jim Harding will take over play-calling duties against Oregon. That change might help the run game, but Harding has never called plays before, and he’s an offensive line coach whose group has not been good enough, injuries aside.
The bigger problem has been execution. At times, the line looks like it’s thinking instead of reacting, and there have been snaps where it doesn’t even seem clear who is supposed to be blocked. That’s a bad place to be at any level, and especially in college football.
Oregon’s defense should make things even tougher. The Ducks are allowing just 3.7 yards per carry, and their front looks like the best Michigan has faced all season.
Oregon also has backup quarterback Dylan Raiola, who has settled in since leading a comeback win over Nebraska. He threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win over Ohio State, and Oregon held the Buckeys to only 53 rushing yards.
The betting market reflects the challenge. Oregon is listed as a 10.5-point favorite at -110, while Michigan sits at +10.5 (-110).
On the moneyline, Oregon is -410 and Michigan is +300. The total is 38.5, with both sides at -110.
There is still a belief that Michigan will show some fight. Starting center Jake Guarnera said he wouldn’t tolerate any quitting on this team. But the Wolverines are dealing with a thin roster, with as many as seven starters potentially out, including their top two pass rushers.
And then there’s the coaching issue. Whittingham’s body language and postgame comments have become part of the story, including the moment last week when he walked to midfield with his unplugged headset still on. Multiple times this season, he has said he didn’t like the play call after the game, even though every call on the field is ultimately his.
That’s the backdrop for a game that could get away from Michigan quickly. Oregon may be able to push the Wolverines around, but the defense should keep this from turning into a complete blowout. Michigan won’t win, but it should do enough to stay inside the number, with Oregon taking it 20-13.
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Whittingham is working under a five-year contract with a sizable buyout, which makes any change complicated even before the results on the field are sorted out. If the season continues to trend the wrong way, the question is no longer just about how the staff adjusts now, but whether the program would be willing to make a major move and consider the names that would surface if that door opens. [Read more 🡒]