Michigan fires offensive coordinator Jason Beck after 15-6 loss to Michigan State

Michigan has fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck, the football program announced on Sunday .

The dismissal comes after the Wolverines' 15-6 loss to Michigan State on Saturday night, during which Michigan only generated 192 yards of offense and didn't score until getting a touchdown with 1:55 remaining in the game.

Offensive line coach Jim Harding is expected to take over the OC role in the interim, according to On3's Pete Nakos .

During Beck's nine games as OC, Michigan ranked No. 132 out of 138 FBS teams in total offense with 2,723 yards. Scoring an average of 19.6 points per game, the Wolverines were the 13th-worst team in the nation .

"The results have not matched our desired outcome, and I felt that a change in leadership was required for our offense," Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham said in a statement . "We need to put our offensive players and the entire team in the best possible position to be successful."

A national search for a new offensive coordinator will be conducted, according to Michigan.

Beck was the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the nation, earning a reported $3 million annual salary on his three-year contract. Michigan owes him $10.1 million for the remainder of his deal, pending him getting another coaching job elsewhere, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

'At some point, you've got to have results'

Following the loss to Michigan State, Whittingham was asked if he would consider replacing Beck after the offense's poor production throughout the season.

"Not right now. Not as I'm sitting here at this podium, no," Whittingham said. "But at some point, you've got to have results. It's a result-driven business, and it's a bottom line business." "I'll evaluate everything after the season and determine what the best course of action is," he added. "But not right here, right now."

After one season as OC with Utah, Beck followed Whittingham to Michigan. During the 2025 season, the Utes ranked fourth in the nation in total offense and points per game (41.1). Prior to joining Whittingham's staff, Beck had offensive coordinator stints at Syracuse and New Mexico.

With 16 years of coaching quarterbacks on his resume, the hope was that Beck could unlock highly touted ( and highly paid, via NIL ) sophomore Bryce Underwood. Yet Underwood struggled, completing 58% of his passes for 924 yards, 5 touchdowns and 6 interceptions before being benched for freshman Tommy Carr .

Carr hasn't fared much better in his five games, throwing for 641 yards, 2 TDs and 3 INTs while completing 67% of his passes. That would appear to indicate that Michigan's offensive woes are systemic, rather than an issue with quarterback play.

Perhaps most baffling is the Wolverines' ineffectiveness in running the football. Jordan Marshall and Bryson Kuzdzal returned for this season, along with five-star prospect Savion Hiter, rated by On3 as the nation's top running back recruit . Yet Michigan currently ranks No. 109 in total rushing yards and 128.7 yards per game.

Beck's scheme, often employing a "Rhino" package with six offensive linemen , was also heavily criticized. Backs would be asked to run wide, rather than utilize a power rushing attack between or off the tackles.

That subpar production might also reflect poorly on Harding's offensive line coaching, which doesn't necessarily bode well for improvement over Michigan's next three games (at Oregon, versus UCLA and at Ohio State).