ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Michigan’s offense is getting a reset, but not a full makeover.
After initially saying he would wait until the end of the season, Kyle Whittingham said Monday that the film from Saturday night’s loss to Michigan State changed his mind and pushed him to move on from offensive coordinator Jason Beck right away.
“Watching the film really was the deciding factor,” Whittingham said. “There was just too much regression in the offense in that particular game.”
Whittingham said the change came from his own evaluation, not outside pressure. He described the decision as tough because Beck was loyal and a good coach, but said it was the move that gave the program the best chance to move forward.
Jim Harding will now handle play-calling for the final three games, with help from offensive line assistant Mike Lynch. Harding, Michigan’s offensive line coach, does not have a long history of calling plays, but Whittingham said he was the right choice for the moment.
“Jim’s a very good football coach,” Whittingham said. “He’s very tuned in to the big picture.”
Even with the new voice in charge, Whittingham made it clear that Michigan is not about to reinvent itself in mid-November. The staff can tinker with formations, passing concepts and other smaller adjustments, but a sweeping overhaul is off the table this late in the year. Whittingham also said he does not expect to take on a bigger role in calling plays, leaving that work to the offensive staff.
The biggest issue, of course, is that Michigan’s offense has been stuck in neutral. Whittingham pointed to four turnovers and a minus-four margin against Michigan State as the most damaging part of the performance.
He also cited the lack of a run game, shaky pass protection and missed chances on third down. The Wolverines gave up five sacks.
“We didn’t do much of anything very well on Saturday night,” Whittingham said.
The offensive line is part of the problem and part of the solution. Whittingham said the unit has to become more efficient, and he noted that Blake Frazier is doubtful for this week. He also mentioned encouraging work from Andrew Babalola and Marky Walbridge.
Quarterback Tommy Carr is under the microscope as well. Whittingham said his efficiency dropped sharply compared with his previous outing.
One of the more intriguing questions is whether Bryce Underwood gets another look. Whittingham said the staff talked about inserting Underwood against Michigan State, but ultimately stuck with the same quarterback plan. He said the position will be revisited as the Wolverines move ahead, with the goal of putting the team in the best position to win.
For all the offensive frustration, Whittingham had plenty of praise for the defense. Michigan State did not score a touchdown and went 0-for-4 in the red zone, another example of a unit that has kept the Wolverines in games all season.
Whittingham said Michigan’s defense has been consistently strong and noted its place among the nation’s top defenses. He also described Big Ten defenses as physical, with similar fronts and coverage looks across the league.
Now Michigan turns to Oregon and the last three games of the regular season. At 5-4, the Wolverines need one more win to become bowl eligible.
Whittingham said the priority is simple: get more out of the offense, especially up front and at quarterback. He also wants more from special teams, including big returns and chances to force turnovers.
The coaching change also opens the door to a search for a permanent offensive coordinator, and Whittingham said the next hire will need a proven track record as a play-caller. He said Michigan would prefer someone with ties to the program or the Midwest, and stressed that leadership will matter just as much as scheme.
The search, though, is only one piece of a bigger job. Whittingham said the staff has already contacted every recruit after the coordinator change and received positive responses. The program has also started conversations with current players about their futures and possible transfer portal decisions.
He admitted the staff did not do enough to fit the offense to the roster it had.
“As a coach, you got to make it work,” Whittingham said. “You got to be able to adapt to your personnel, and we just didn’t do a good job of that this year.”
For Whittingham, the message is bigger than one coordinator change or one rough Saturday.
“The big picture is winning,” Whittingham said.
Michigan will face Oregon on Nov. 14, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. EST.
In Other News...
Michigan's Rough Season Just Led To Another Troubling Departure
Michigans uneven season has already brought one major change on the staff, with offensive coordinator Jason Beck dismissed after a disappointing 5-4 start. The on-field frustration has now spilled into the roster, too, as defensive end Nate Marshall has left the program and is expected to enter the transfer portal.
Marshall arrived with plenty of recruiting buzz and had shown signs of progress under the new coaching staff, but his role had started to shrink in recent weeks. For a Michigan team trying to steady itself in November, losing a player with his pedigree only adds another layer of uncertainty to a season that has already been hard to define. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Fans Can Read One Troubling Sign In Kyle Whittingham's Future
The chatter around Michigan footballs next coaching move has picked up because the schools athletic director search appears to be moving faster than expected. With Warde Manuel set to step down at the end of December, the timing has only added to the sense that the program is lining up its next major decision sooner rather than later, especially after a disappointing 2026 season left plenty of frustration in Ann Arbor.
Kyle Whittinghams future has become part of that conversation, and not in a comfortable way for Michigan fans. The concern is that the accelerated pace of the athletic director process could point to a change coming before the year is out, rather than waiting for the calendar to run its course. For a fan base already looking for answers, the overlap between the AD search and the coachs status is the troubling sign worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Oregon Quarterback Plan Just Got A Lot More Intriguing
Michigans quarterback situation for the Oregon game has taken on a little more shape, even if the public answer is still being kept under wraps. Kyle Whittingham said the starter was decided internally but not announced, and the expectation around the program is that Tommy Carr will get the nod when the Wolverines face Oregon.
Bryce Underwood also appears likely to be part of the plan, which adds another layer to a matchup already feeling like a reset on offense. Michigan recently moved on from offensive coordinator Jason Beck, and with offensive line coach Jim Harding taking over play-calling duties, the quarterback usage against Oregon could offer the first real glimpse of how the staff wants this offense to look going forward. [Read more 🡒]