Former Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck has been fired by Michigan after just nine games, with a potential $10.1 million buyout, while his former program sits at No. 2 in the country.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Sunday that Michigan had dismissed Beck following Saturday’s 15-6 loss to Michigan State, which dropped the Wolverines to 5-4 on the season.
According to Thamel, Beck could be owed nearly $7 million in remaining salary and another $3.1 million in retention bonuses. The contract includes offset and mitigation provisions, meaning the final amount could be reduced depending on future employment.
The potential $10.1 million payout is believed to be the largest buyout for an assistant coach in college football history.
Jason Beck’s Move From Utah to Michigan Goes Wrong
Beck spent the 2025 season as Utah’s offensive coordinator under Kyle Whittingham, helping the Utes produce one of the nation’s top offenses.
When Whittingham left Utah for Michigan, Beck followed him to Ann Arbor, becoming the highest-paid offensive coordinator in college football.
But the results have been disastrous.
Michigan entered the weekend ranked No. 132 nationally in total offense, a stunning decline for a program that invested heavily in its coaching staff and roster.
Saturday’s loss to Michigan State was the breaking point.
The Wolverines managed just 192 yards of offense and didn’t score their only touchdown until the final two minutes of the game.
Michigan has now turned to offensive line coach Jim Harding as its interim offensive coordinator.
Meanwhile, Utah Is Ranked No. 2 in the Country
The irony for Big 12 fans is difficult to ignore.
While Whittingham and Beck have struggled at Michigan, Utah has thrived under first-year head coach Morgan Scalley.
The Utes improved to 9-0 with Saturday’s 28-20 victory over BYU in the Holy War and climbed to No. 2 in Sunday’s AP Top 25.
Quarterback Devon Dampier, who previously played for Beck at New Mexico and Utah, has continued to flourish in Salt Lake City.
Utah is now firmly in the Big 12 championship race and positioned as a College Football Playoff contender.
Meanwhile, Michigan is searching for answers on offense and preparing to pay a potentially historic price for a coordinator who lasted less than one season.
It’s quite the contrast between two programs that went through major coaching changes this offseason.
