Whittingham Says Oregon’s $50 Million Lets Lanning Outbid Everybody Before Saturday

• Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham said Monday night that the $50 million at Oregon’s disposal lets coach Dan Lanning outbid rivals for recruits, per CBS Sports.
• Lanning was not told of the remark Monday and previewed the matchup at his weekly news conference, calling Whittingham a Hall of Fame coach.
• Whittingham fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck the morning after Michigan lost to Michigan State.

A Michigan Coach Puts a Price on the Ducks’ Recruiting

Kyle Whittingham brought up money when he talked about Oregon on Monday night. Michigan’s first-year head coach, previewing Saturday’s game at Oregon, called Dan Lanning an outstanding football coach and a tireless recruiter. Then he put a number on Oregon’s resources and said they let Lanning outbid a lot of people. The remark was unprompted, and it quickly made the rounds on social media. It landed on a program in the middle of a rough first season for its new coach.

Here is what Whittingham said, in his words:

“(Lanning’s an) outstanding football coach, defensive-minded coach; that’s his background, but tireless recruiter,” Whittingham said Monday night. “He really does a great job recruiting. It doesn’t hurt that you have $50 million at your disposal to, in essence, to outbid everybody. Not everybody, but a lot of people. But that’s not his fault. That’s a credit. I mean, that’s a credit to their program and their dedication and desire to win and the support they have.”

“NIL is really the name in the game in recruiting these days; it’s shifted so much. Used to be the facilities you had, the tradition and all these other things; now it’s these guys got 100 grand more for me. It’s a little bit of a factor, to say the least, but not to take anything away from Dan because he’s an outstanding recruiter just in and of itself.”

Both numbers are Whittingham’s own claims, and neither has been independently confirmed. A preseason poll of more than 50 industry insiders placed Oregon among the costliest rosters in the country this season. Michigan’s roster cost is estimated to exceed $30 million but has not passed $40 million.

Lanning Was Unaware, Then Previewed the Game

Lanning was not made aware of Whittingham’s comments Monday. He previewed the matchup with Michigan at his weekly news conference.

“I haven’t really been able to pay much attention to them until this week,” Lanning said of Michigan. “I know he’s a Hall of Fame coach for a reason, and he’s won a lot of football games. I’ve been worried about my own problems, not really paying attention to his. I know he does a great job. I’m sure they’ll be prepared to play us.”

The Ducks signed a top-10 class last recruiting cycle and began the season inside the top five before early struggles. Last week’s win at Ohio State put them back in the College Football Playoff at-large conversation.

Michigan’s Offense Is Under the Microscope

Michigan State won 15-6 last Saturday on five field goals. Whittingham questioned his team’s motivation afterward, pointing out that no trophy games remain on the schedule this season. Michigan last lost a game without allowing a touchdown in 1985.

On Sunday he fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck, the nation’s highest-paid assistant coach, the morning after the game. His statement explained the move.

“The results have not matched our desired outcome, and I felt that a change in leadership was required for our offense,” Whittingham said Sunday. “We need to put our offensive players and the entire team in the best possible position to be successful.”

“We appreciate the hard work and effort that Jason has dedicated to the program. Jason is a great man and coach, and unfortunately, it did not work out the way that we wanted it to at Michigan. We wish Jason and his family nothing but the best in the future.”

Michigan ranks near the bottom of the Big Ten in nearly all offensive statistical categories, and that is after a change at quarterback from Bryce Underwood to freshman Tommy Carr. Published estimates put Underwood’s pay at more than $3 million this season. He completed 58% of his passes with five touchdowns and six interceptions before he was benched last month. Carr went 1-2 as the starter, with a win at Rutgers and an overtime loss to Indiana. Whittingham also reopened the quarterback competition for this weekend’s game at Oregon.

Michigan is not the only power program to change its offensive coordinator this season. Brent Venables fired his own coordinator earlier this month.

What Saturday Decides

Whittingham takes an offense without its coordinator, an open quarterback job and a remark about Oregon’s money into Saturday’s game at Oregon. Lanning brings a team that just won at Ohio State. Quarterback decisions are a live topic elsewhere too, and Saban on benching quarterbacks covers one more.