Kyle Whittingham apparently didn't watch last year's Oklahoma State-Oregon matchup and witness the consequences of talking about the Ducks' finances.
"Outstanding football coach, defensive-minded coach, that's his background, but tireless recruiter," Whittingham said Monday about Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, according to Clayton Sayfie of The Wolverine.
"It doesn't hurt that you have $50-plus million at your disposal to, in essence, 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."
Last year, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy learned the hard way not to discuss Oregon's finances, as the Cowboys were shelled 69-3 after he poked the bear in the days leading up to the contest.
"They spend a lot of money," Gundy said, according to Lily Crane of Sports Illustrated. "But they're a good team. There's no doubt about it. ... I think Oregon spent close to $40 (million) last year alone. That was just one year. Now, I might be off a few million."
NIL numbers aren't usually public, but The Athletic's Bruce Feldman estimated Oregon's roster at $50 million this year. While that figure is expected to be among the sport's most expensive, the Wolverines aren't exactly scraping the bargain barrel in the transfer portal or high school recruiting.
Notably, quarterback Bryce Underwood's recruitment was one of the most followed in college football. The five-star signal-caller ultimately flipped from LSU to Michigan at the last minute, with billionaire Larry Ellison helping bankroll the move. Underwood reportedly received a four-year, $10.5-million NIL deal to play for the Wolverines.
However, Underwood has underwhelmed at Michigan, especially since Whittingham took over as head coach this season. He was benched after six weeks in favor of Tommy Carr, and Whittingham later fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck following an embarrassing 15-6 loss to Michigan State last weekend.
The Wolverines now face a cross-country trip to Oregon, where they'll take on a Ducks team with a coach who thrives on adding extra motivation to any game. Whittingham's latest comments certainly add even more intrigue to the 3:30 p.m. ET contest.
