Michigan’s 3-2 start has already pushed Kyle Whittingham into the kind of conversation that usually comes much later. For a program fresh off a national championship in the 2023-24 season, a surprising 20-14 loss to Minnesota and an 0-2 mark in Big Ten play have turned every week into a referendum on where things stand and where they might be headed.
The Wolverines get Penn State at home on Saturday, and both teams walk in needing a win. Michigan is coming off its bye week looking to steady itself after the loss to the Golden Gophers, while Penn State arrives at 3-3 overall and 0-3 in conference play.
It’s not just a matchup between two teams searching for traction. It’s also the sort of game that puts extra heat on both sidelines.
Austin Nivison of CBS Sports framed the stakes around Whittingham and Matt Campbell, and his evaluation of Michigan’s offense was blunt. "Quarterback Bryce Underwood and the offense have regressed under Whittingham's staff," he notes in the piece.
"The Wolverines have reached 20 points in one game - a 52-17 blowout over UTEP in Week 2. Only Michigan State has a worse scoring offense than Michigan's in the Big Ten."
That’s a harsh snapshot of where the Wolverines are right now. But Nivison also laid out why a quick trigger might not make sense. Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel is leaving at the end of the year, which adds another layer of uncertainty to an already unsettled situation.
"When it comes to the murky future of the athletic department, wouldn't it be wise to keep Whittingham for at least another season?" he asks. "Is more instability really the answer for the Wolverines?"
So even with the rough opening stretch, Whittingham’s future is not automatically decided by one uneven season. Michigan may not be where it expected to be, but the bigger question is whether the school wants to add another major change to the pile. In college football, patience is always in short supply.
In Other News...
Penn State Could Be Getting A Familiar Name Back For A Key Need
Penn State may be getting a familiar name back at just the right time, with LaVar Arrington II expected to return to the football team after the bye week. The son of College Football Hall of Famer LaVar Arrington spent last season contributing on special teams, and his return adds another layer to a defense looking for help in the right spots.
Coach Matt Campbell said the staff still has to decide whether Arrington II will line up at linebacker or defensive end, a choice that will shape how quickly he can make an impact. After missing time this season because of injury, his comeback gives Penn State another option to consider as it tries to maximize his value on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces A New Injury Concern Before Michigan Showdown
Penn State got a little clarity, and a little more uncertainty, when the Big Ten-mandated availability reports came out ahead of Saturdays trip to Ann Arbor. Two starters were upgraded and removed from the report, which is the kind of update every staff wants to see this time of year, but a starting wide receiver was added as questionable, leaving the Nittany Lions with one more situation to monitor before they face Michigan.
Michigans report stayed unchanged, with players still spread across probable, questionable, doubtful and out designations. Penn State will have two more availability reports before kickoff, so the picture could shift again before the Nittany Lions take the field in one of the biggest games on their schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Offense May Be Forced Into A Shakeup At Worst Time
Penn States offense is still searching for a cleaner rhythm after a stretch in which the scoring has dried up at the wrong time. Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser pointed to a few of the issues that have piled up, from the teams production in three Big Ten losses to the absence of wide receiver Koby Howard because of injury, all while the unit has continued to fight through red zone inconsistency.
Mouser also left open the possibility of changes up front, and freshman receiver Amarion Jackson could see more opportunities as the staff looks for a spark. The Nittany Lions have turned 14 of 26 trips inside the 20 into touchdowns, a mark that reflects both the promise and the frustration of an offense trying to find answers before the schedule gets any tighter. [Read more 🡒]