It always felt like Michigan football was going to struggle to generate enough offense to beat sixth-ranked Indiana.
We had no idea how bad it was going to be, though. The Wolverines had four drives inside the 15, and they didn't score a single touchdown. That's offensive failure by any metric.
Indiana wasn't much better, but the Hoosiers came up with an overtime touchdown when they really needed it. Michigan, being unable to kick a field goal, turned it over on downs.
It was par for the course in Kyle Whittingham's first season as Michigan head coach. If it keeps going this way, it could or should be his only season. There are five games left before we can make that judgment, but here are five lessons learned in the 13-6 loss to Indiana.
Jason Beck has been the problem all along
It seems clear to every single person but Kyle Whittingham that Jason Beck, the Michigan football offensive coordinator, is the biggest problem with the offense.
There are two young quarterbacks, Bryce Underwood and Tommy Carr, who have struggled at times. Beck hasn't helped his quarterbacks, though. The running game has been a disaster. And Michigan found a way to run the ball when Davis Warren was the quarterback. U-M also made it work last season with Underwood.
It wasn't always pretty, but it wasn't this bad. The 2024 and 2025 Michigan football teams could score a touchdown from the one yard-line.
Beck's third-and-goal call for a play-action fake lost Michigan the game. Two runs, or just a rushing attempt for Jordan Marshall, probably gives the Wolverines the lead. Maybe it doesn't stick, but Indiana didn't generate a single scoring drive that started in its own territory.
The Wolverines ran the ball 41 times for 57 yards. It's mind-boggling. Even if you knew that person was trying, it's hard to believe anyone could coordinate an offense this poorly.
On Michigan's last 27 possessions that didn't start after a takeaway by the defense, the Wolverines have scored once. That's hard to fathom, unless Jason Beck is the offensive coordinator.
Beck is making $3 million, and he can't be retained. It's hard to understand why they're allowing him to call the offense for the rest of the season. There has to be accountability at some point.
Michigan football wasted a championship defense
For the second time in three years, Michigan has had a defense good enough to be playing in the College Football Playoff.
The problem was a historically bad offense. Somehow, this offense is worse than it was in 2024. That didn't seem possible, but it is. Michigan can't run it, can't throw, can't do anything.
Michigan has lost three games by a total of 13 points. The offense scored a total of 38 points, or 12.6 per game, in those three losses. It's hard to be worse than that, and it's a damn shame because this U-M defense has been elite.
Kyle Whittingham forgot how to coach
Whittingham doesn't seem to care that Michigan is losing. He doesn't get fired up after the game or during the game. He isn't even listening to or overruling bad play calls. He just complains afterward as if he isn't responsible for what happens in all three phases on every play.
With a competent coach, Michigan would be 7-0. Instead, with clueless Kyle Whittingham, the Wolverines are 4-3 and, for all intents and purposes, out of the playoff race.
Tight ends can be part of the offense
All season, it has felt like Beck has looked down on Michigan's tight ends. It feels like that's why he's obsessed with the Rhino package.
Against Indiana, Hogan Hansen looked like a reliable option in the passing game. He caught four passes for 34 yards with a long of 12. Jalen Hoffman caught two passes for 14 yards and nearly caught a touchdown. If he had been able to break one more tackle, what could have been.
Tight ends might not block as well as Rhinos, but they bring the threat of the pass. Linebackers have to respect that. With Hansen, we saw why. It's too bad it took until game seven for Beck to realize it.
The offense isn't much better with Tommy Carr
Would things have looked better with Bryce Underwood? It's a fair question. Carr committed two turnovers in the first half that led to all six points for Indiana in regulation.
Carr took a terrible sack at the end of the first half, too, making a field-goal attempt a lot longer than it needed to be. Michigan missed, so that was costly. The decision to pitch on the speed option cost Michigan another three points. In a game that ended regulation tied at 6-6, those points were essential.
Carr made quick decisions in the pocket. He converted some key third and fourth downs, but in many of the game's biggest momentns he looked like a true freshman.
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