EUGENE, Ore. — Michigan arrives at Autzen Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 14, for its first trip to Oregon since Oregon joined the Big Ten, and the two head coaches have already spent the week sparring over money.
It started Monday, when Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham praised Oregon coach Dan Lanning as a tireless recruiter, then noted that having roughly $50 million in name, image and likeness money lets Oregon outbid much of the country. Lanning fired back at his Wednesday news conference, calling Whittingham a Hall of Fame coach before suggesting Michigan might have more to spend on players if it were not paying so much to coaches it lets go.
That line pointed straight at the week in Ann Arbor. Michigan fired offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jason Beck, whose buyout runs about $10.2 million, after a 15-6 home loss to Michigan State in which the Wolverines turned it over four times and allowed five sacks. Michigan is averaging 19.6 points a game.
Offensive line coach Jim Harding, who had shared co-coordinator duties, will call plays on an interim basis, and Whittingham said the permanent hire will have ties to Michigan or the Midwest. The quarterback job is also unsettled. Whittingham said Monday the choice between freshman Tommy Carr and sophomore Bryce Underwood, the top recruit in the 2025 class, is still to be determined, and both could play.
Michigan (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) has already been knocked out of College Football Playoff contention. Oregon is headed the other way. Three weeks ago Oregon was unranked after back-to-back losses, but it has since beaten two ranked conference opponents, including a 41-28 win at Ohio State, and sit No. 16 in the latest playoff rankings at 6-3 and 4-2 in league play. Another loss would likely end its playoff hopes.
Quarterback Dylan Raiola, who took over in Week 5 after starter Dante Moore was hurt, threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns at Ohio State without a turnover or a sack. Oregon has its top three receivers healthy again with Jeremiah McClellan back from a broken foot alongside Evan Stewart and Dakorien Moore. Oregon will be without edge rusher Teitum Tuioti, their sack leader with 5.5, who needs knee surgery.
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