The University of Michigan made a significant coaching staff change on Sunday, parting ways with offensive coordinator Jason Beck. The move comes just one day after the Wolverines suffered a humiliating 15-6 loss to rival Michigan State, dropping their record to a disappointing 5-4 on the season.
The decision was first reported by ESPN's Pete Thamel, who confirmed the firing on Sunday evening. Adam Rittenberg added context, noting that Beck coordinated a top-5 offense last year at Utah but oversaw a unit that has been "historically bad" this season in Ann Arbor.
The Wolverines' offense has been a disaster all year long. They've managed to score more than 30 points just once this season, and in Big Ten play, they've failed to reach the 20-point mark in four of six games. Saturday's loss to Michigan State was the low point, as the team could only muster six points in a stunning upset defeat.
One of the biggest criticisms has been the lack of development of former No. 1 quarterback recruit Bryce Underwood, who was expected to be the future of the program but has struggled under Beck's guidance.
The pressure had been mounting for weeks, with prominent Michigan booster and Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy leading the charge. In a fiery post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday night, Portnoy wrote: "Fire Kyle Whittingham. Fire Jason Beck. This is the lowest most embarrassing Michigan Football has been in my lifetime. What an absolute joke of a football team."
While head coach Kyle Whittingham appears to still have his job for now, this firing signals that the program is demanding changes. It's a move that echoes the recent fan frustration under Whittingham, as supporters have grown increasingly vocal about the team's direction.
The Wolverines now face a brutal closing stretch, with road games against Oregon, UCLA, and Ohio State. Given their current form, they'll likely be underdogs in all three contests, making a 5-7 finish a real possibility. The pressure is on Whittingham to turn things around quickly, or his job could be next on the chopping block.
This firing is just the latest in a series of coaching changes across college football, including Nebraska's recent dismissal of Dana Holgorsen. As the season winds down, more changes could be on the horizon for struggling programs.
Michigan fans will be watching closely to see who the program brings in to replace Beck, and whether this move can spark a turnaround before the season ends. But with three tough games remaining, the immediate outlook remains bleak.
