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Why Dave Portnoy’s ‘scapegoat’ claim about Bryce Underwood holds up after Indiana loss
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- Why Dave Portnoy’s ‘scapegoat’ claim about Bryce Underwood holds up after Indiana loss
Dave Portnoy watched Michigan lose 13-6 in overtime to No. 6 Indiana at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, then posted a video to X that put the result on offensive coordinator Jason Beck. The Barstool Sports founder also argued that benching quarterback Bryce Underwood had hung Beck's problems on the wrong player.
The loss dropped Michigan to 4-3 and 1-3 in Big Ten play, and it handed Indiana its first win in Ann Arbor since 1967 .
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"I think Bryce Underwood probably gives us the best chance to win, and he was a scapegoat. Bryce Underwood was a scapegoat for Jason Beck. Jason Beck is horrific. Jason Beck is the worst offensive play caller, worst offensive coordinator I've ever watched with these eyes," Portnoy said.
Dec 14, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dave Portnoy, Bar Stool Sports founder and owner walks along the sidelines before the playing of the 125 Army Navy game at Commanders Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn ImagesDec 14, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dave Portnoy poses with solders before the between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at Commanders Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Trailing 6-0 in the third quarter, Michigan had third-and-goal at the Indiana 1. Beck called play-action, Tommy Carr was sacked for a 13-yard loss, and Trey Butkowski missed a 32-yard field goal on the next snap.
"This isn't on the players. This is on the coaching. You have third and goal from the one, and you try to get cute instead of putting Bryce Underwood in QB sneaks," Portnoy said.
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"That was not a good football call at that point in time," Kyle Whittingham said after the game.
"I have the ability to overrule anything in the whole program," Whittingham said .
Was Bryce Underwood ever the real problem in Michigan's offense?
Whittingham pulled Underwood at halftime of the Oct. 17 win over Penn State after a first half in which he went 5-of-11 for 43 yards with two interceptions. Underwood had thrown for 924 yards with five touchdowns and a Big Ten-high six interceptions through six games when Carr was named the starter for Indiana.
With Carr under center, Michigan scored two field goals across regulation and overtime. Carr completed 20 of 32 passes for 167 yards, threw an interception, lost a fumble and was sacked four times, while the team ran 42 times for 57 yards. Whittingham traced Carr's two turnovers to a miscalled option and a pass that bounced off a teammate's helmet.
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A new quarterback ran the same stalled offense, which is the best evidence for Portnoy's scapegoat argument.
Michigan's three trips inside the Indiana 20 produced three points, and the one sequence the head coach singled out came down to the call.
Sep 5, 2026; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) walks out of the tunnel for warmups before their game against Western Michigan at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
What Jason Beck's Utah offense says about Michigan's struggles
Michigan hired Beck on Jan. 2 from Utah, where his 2025 offense ranked second in FBS in rushing at 266.3 yards per game and fifth in scoring at 41.2 points per game.
Michigan football special teams coordinator Kerry Coombs, left, and defensive coordinator Jason Beck, center, listen during football head coach Kyle Whittingham's introduction during the first half between Michigan and USC at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.
"Last year, Jason was exceptional, and we had exceptional results," Whittingham said.
"It was abysmal from start to finish, and the numbers bear that out," Whittingham said of the run game .
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"And they have good skill guys. They have good running backs. They have good wide receivers. Their offensive line maybe not playing great, but it's on Jason f—ing Beck," Portnoy said.
Injuries forced true freshman Marky Walbridge into the starting lineup at right tackle, which accounts for some of the trouble up front. The goal-line call is much harder to pin on any one person.
Michigan's defense kept Indiana from crossing midfield after halftime and held Josh Hoover to eight completions for 81 yards, and the Wolverines still lost a home game because their offense managed six points in more than 60 minutes.
The post Why Dave Portnoy's 'scapegoat' claim about Bryce Underwood holds up after Indiana loss appeared first on Gridiron Heroics .
