Michigan’s night against Michigan State turned into a mess almost immediately, and it never really recovered.
The Wolverines piled up four turnovers and managed just six points in a 15-6 loss at the Big House, a result that handed Michigan State its first Power-4 win of the season and its first Big Ten win under Pat Fitzgerald. In the Paul Bunyan Trophy game, the Spartans looked like the team that wanted it more. Michigan looked sloppy from the opening drive, when Tommy Carr threw an interception, and the rest of the night followed that same script.
The defeat also snapped Michigan’s four-game winning streak in the rivalry, and it left plenty of blame to go around.
The harshest criticism landed on Kyle Whittingham, who, according to the source, can’t coach another game for Michigan. He’ll likely finish the season, but the case against bringing him back is framed as complete: the offensive line has been awful, Jason Beck should have been fired a month ago, and the running game has been “beyond pathetic.” Whittingham is 66, and the source argues he isn’t building anything at this point.
That frustration extends to the offensive staff, especially Beck. The source says Whittingham should have made a change weeks ago at offensive coordinator, pointing to Oregon’s move and the Ducks’ return to the College Football Playoff race.
Even if the offensive line is the bigger problem, the coaching hasn’t helped, and Michigan State’s defense - which the source notes was the No. 84 scoring defense in college football - still held Michigan to 195 total yards. Beck, the source says, should have been relieved of his duties after the Minnesota game.
There’s also a quarterback issue that Saturday only sharpened. The source says Bryce Underwood should still be playing, and that Carr was put in a bad spot without a running game and without the arm strength to carry the offense.
Carr was not expected to play this season, and while the source says he’s worth developing, this performance likely ended any chance of him locking down the job down the stretch. He finished 14 of 27 for 138 yards and two interceptions.
The defense didn’t escape criticism either. The source says it looked like the unit quit or simply ran out of gas late, though it also points out that Michigan still kept Michigan State under 20 points and did not allow a touchdown. Under normal circumstances, that would be enough to win.
Instead, the loss landed as another ugly marker in a season that has gone off the rails. The source compares the 15-0 nightmare to the Brady Hoke era, and even to the Rich Rodriguez years, calling Saturday the cherry on top of a brutal run.
In Other News...
Michigan Just Exposed A Bigger Problem Than Losing To Michigan State
Michigans 15-6 loss to Michigan State was jarring enough on its own, but the way it unfolded made the result feel even heavier for a program that went in as a two-touchdown favorite. The Wolverines managed only 192 total yards, gave the ball away four times and were outplayed on the ground, a combination that left little doubt about why the night went sideways so quickly.
What makes the setback sting beyond the rivalry scoreline is the bigger picture it exposed in the 2026 season. The offense never found a rhythm, the coaching decisions came under the microscope and even special teams became part of the conversation, leaving Michigan with more to sort through than just one bad loss. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Got A Needed Recruiting Win At The Right Time
Michigan picked up a timely boost on the recruiting trail when Xavier Muhammad, one of the more highly regarded defensive line prospects in the 2027 cycle, reaffirmed his commitment to the Wolverines and shut down plans to take official visits elsewhere, including to Texas. For a program that always has to protect its future pipeline, keeping a player of Muhammads caliber in the fold matters, especially as the season winds down and recruiting attention starts to sharpen.
Muhammad is still expected in Ann Arbor for Michigans final home game, giving the staff another chance to reinforce the relationship in person. His continued pledge also helps the Wolverines 2027 class standing, which is exactly the kind of early momentum programs want when the calendar turns and the recruiting race starts to harden. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan May Be Turning To A Freshman In A Huge QB Shift
Tommy Carr has already gone from intriguing freshman name to real part of Michigans season, and now he is set for an even bigger stage. The true freshman quarterback, grandson of former Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr and brother of Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, has started two games this year and helped Michigan secure key wins, giving the staff a reason to trust him in meaningful moments.
Now comes the next test, and it carries plenty of weight in a rivalry game. Carr has been named the starter for Michigans upcoming matchup with Michigan State, and if he handles it well, the Wolverines may keep rolling with him under center beyond this week. For a team looking for stability at quarterback, this is a chance for a freshman to turn a temporary opportunity into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]