Kyle Whittingham's team is 4-3 after an overtime loss to Indiana in Week 8. Whittingham may be out the door in Ann Arbor quickly if the bleeding continues for the Maize and Blue. This could be a one-and-done season for the soon-to-be 67-year-old longtime former Utah coach.
Speaking of the Utes, Utah is 7-0, No. 6 in the country, and leading the Big 12 without Whittingham. That just makes what's unfolding with TTUN even more damning for this new coaching regime.
If they're already talking about firing Whittingham, there's a non-zero chance he doesn't make it to "The Game" against Ohio State at the "Shoe" this November. The Buckeyes are playing without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, but they're still favored by two scores over the Wolverines right now.
How many more losses will it take for TTUN to cut bait before the chance of being embarrassed in the rivalry game?
Who would be TTUN's interim HC for 'The Game' if Whittingham is fired?
If Whittingham is fired, you have to think that offensive coordinator Jason Beck would be let go as well.
Beck's side of the ball is the one that mustered six points and didn't find the end zone a single time. Beck hasn't been able to make a star out of Tommy Carr or Bryce Underwood, and the run game is beyond stagnant.
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill is the most obvious interim head coaching option for the Wolverines if Whittingham is fired. Hill was the associate head coach under Kalani Sitake at BYU for three seasons and has the defense humming.
Who could the Wolverines' next head coach be in 2027 and beyond?
There's no more obvious head coaching candidate to throw every bit of money at than Bob Chesney, UCLA's first-year head coach. Chesney has the Bruins at 7-0 and ranked No. 7 in the country.
UCLA has resurrected from the ashes under Chesney, not long after Chesney brought James Madison to the CFP.
Would Chesney leave all of that right now? Are the Bruins even a worse job than the Wolverines when there is institutional alignment? Los Angeles is a rich recruiting blueprint. Chesney has many perks right in front of him in the City of Angels.
If Chesney isn't available and top coaches don't want to join what has been a highly dysfunctional program since their Spygate 2023 championship, perhaps settling for someone like Lincoln Riley is the best move.
USC just lost to Wisconsin, potentially eliminating the Trojans from the CFP. Ohio State could officially close that door with a win this Sunday. Riley is on the hot seat right now and could be fired with one more loss.
Even still, TTUN would take Riley over Whittingham if it had that choice to make at this very moment.
We'll see if Whittingham is destined for a short stay up north. If so, one of the richest schools in the country will have one hell of a coaching cycle opening ahead in the coming months.
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