No matter what Kyle Whittingham says, it feels like the Michigan football season is already over, at least in terms of being able to achieve anything.
The Wolverines can't win the Big Ten. Even if they run the table, they aren't guaranteed to make the College Football Playoff. A win over Ohio State would be awesome. The same goes for Michigan State, but outside of that, reaching a meaningless bowl is about it.
Even so, the program needs a win against Rutgers. There have been rumblings that Whittingham could be on the hot seat. If the Wolverines lose against Rutgers, that won't be a question.
It might not matter anymore how much it costs to get rid of Whittingham and Jason Beck. Money is likely a factor in Beck still being the OC, although Whittingham could still take the play-calling away from him.
Sticking with Beck feels like sticking with a quarterback who just keeps throwing interceptions. At some point, you have to take the guy off the field.
This offense makes you long for the 2024 Michigan offense. At least that team could run the ball and score when it mattered (OSU, MSU, USC). It makes you wonder if this offense is bad enough to lose to Rutgers.
Michigan should dominate Rutgers, but Wolverines can't walk and chew gum
The Wolverines are favored by 14.5 points. They should win this game easily. Rutgers is allowing 5.8 rushing yards per attempt. They lost to UMass for goodness sake. The Scarlet Knights did beat Maryland, though, and Greg Schiano's team will get up for this game. This is exactly the kind of win that will cool off his own hot seat.
Tommy Carr is expected to start. Bryce Underwood might play, as he did against Indiana, and if he does, I am begging for the staff to call a play-action pass. Let him throw downfield. The same goes for Carr. JJ Buchanan and Andrew Marsh should have a field day.
Blake Frazier is questionable. Getting him back would help. He was missed last week. The Wolverines might have beaten indiana if he was out there. Having the preferred starters on the offensive line hasn't happened since the start of the season.
It's been a mess. Beck needs to find a way to overcome that. The coaching has been poor in all facets of the offense. You want to be confident that Michigan will take care of business, but seeing the offense play like it did in the Minnesota game, doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility.
The run game has to get going this week and if the offense doesn't, it's never going to happen.
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