It might be hard to lay the blame for Michigan football's struggles this season at the feet of head coach Kyle Whittingham, at least until you see how much better the Utah Utes are doing without him.
Not only is Utah undefeated and ranked in the top 10 of the College Football Playoff rankings in the first season without Whittingham as the head coach, but after the win over BYU, the Utes are all but guaranteed to make the 12-team playoff.
Utah is surprising as Michigan football is disappointing
The Utes have been one of the biggest surprises in college football this season, but after watching Whittingham for the past eight games, it's not hard to imagine that they are better off with him in Ann Arbor.
Utah was supposed to be good. Yet, after losing Whittingham, the offensive coordinator, O-line coach, best defensive player, and the super-talented JJ Buchanan, along with other starting-level players, last season, the Utes weren't supposed to be this dominant, even in the Big 12.
Morgan Scalley the new head coach, has won his first nine games on the job if you count the Las Vegas Bowl win over Nebraska. Seven of those nine wins were by double-digits.
With the win over BYU, they are in a strong position to make the College Football Playoff. The Utes are currently ranked third in the College Football Playoff rankings and will be favored to win the rest of their games this season.
Turns out, there was a reason that Utah was trying to push Whittingham out the door. He took some of his guys with them, but the fit hasn't been great with Michigan, just like Jason Beck, who couldn't do the same thing for Bryce Underwood that he did for Devon Dampier.
While Utah has gotten better without Whittingham, Michigan football has gotten worse. The Wolverines have lost to Iowa and Minnesota. There was also the loss to Indiana, a game that should have been won and would have been won if Whittingham told Beck to run the ball at the one-yard line on third-and-goal, instead of calling a play-action pass to the Rhino that resulted in a sack and a missed field goal in a game that ended 6-6 at the end of regulation.
The Wolverines beat Rutgers last week. A win over Michigan State would make Michigan fans feel better about the season, but the only way to salvage it is by beating Ohio State.
Unless that happens, Michigan fans will have buyer's remorse. Most already do.
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