The Michigan Wolverines could be facing another major coaching change after a disappointing start to the 2026 college football season.
First-year head coach Kyle Whittingham has guided Michigan to a 4-3 record through seven games, raising questions about his long-term future in Ann Arbor.
According to a report from CBS Sports on Wednesday, multiple industry sources believe Michigan could consider moving on from Whittingham after just one season.
The possibility comes as Michigan prepares for an athletic department leadership change, with athletic director Warde Manuel expected to step down at the end of the year.
Whittingham, 66, was hired in December after spending more than two decades leading Utah. He signed a five-year contract running through the 2030 season.
However, the Wolverines have struggled to find consistency under their new coach, losing three of their last four games.
Michigan suffered a 13-6 overtime loss to Indiana on Saturday, dropping to 1-3 in Big Ten play. The Wolverines previously lost to Iowa and Minnesota.
All three defeats have come by seven points or fewer, but the team’s offensive struggles have become increasingly difficult to overlook.
Michigan is averaging just 20.3 points and 300.6 total yards per game, ranking 17th in the 18-team Big Ten in both categories.
The Wolverines have also dealt with uncertainty at quarterback. Former five-star recruit Bryce Underwood has thrown five touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 58.1% of his passes.
Freshman Tommy Carr replaced Underwood in the starting lineup against Indiana, but Michigan still failed to score a touchdown.
Despite those issues, the possibility of Whittingham leaving after one season remains speculation rather than an established decision.
One industry source told CBS Sports that Michigan’s leadership understands Whittingham might not be the program’s long-term solution.
“I think they know this isn’t the long term,” the source said. “It’s just do you rip it up after one year?”
Michigan’s upcoming athletic director hire could play a significant role in determining what happens next.
The university has hired search firm ZRG Turnkey to assist with finding Manuel’s replacement. CBS Sports reported that Michigan would prefer to address that vacancy before considering another football coaching change.
Financial considerations could also complicate a potential departure. Whittingham’s contract averages $8.2 million annually and reportedly guarantees 75% of his remaining salary if he is fired without cause.
Michigan still has five regular-season games remaining, including challenging matchups against Oregon, UCLA and Ohio State.
The Wolverines will first travel to Rutgers on Saturday before hosting Michigan State the following week.
A strong finish could ease concerns surrounding Whittingham’s future. However, another disappointing stretch could increase pressure on Michigan’s incoming athletic leadership to consider a different direction.
For now, Whittingham remains Michigan’s head coach, but questions about his future have surfaced much earlier than expected.
