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The Nebraska Cornhuskers and Michigan Wolverines fired their offensive coordinators over the weekend, two weeks after the Oregon Ducks made the same change. Games between two Big Ten teams have averaged 47.3 combined points this season, according to Sportradar data cited Tuesday by The Associated Press. The figure was 45.0 in 2023, and before that the conference had not averaged less than 47.3 since 2006.
Scoring rose after the USC Trojans, UCLA Bruins, Oregon, and Washington Huskies joined from the Pac-12, reaching 48.4 points in 2024 and 49.0 in 2025. Only the Mountain West, at 45.5, has a lower average in conference games this season.
Nebraska announced the firing of Dana Holgorsen on Saturday in a statement from coach Matt Rhule, a day after a 24-13 loss at the Illinois Fighting Illini extended a four-game losing streak.
“While there are many areas that need improvement, our offensive plan and execution is simply not working,” Rhule said.
Co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas will call plays for the rest of the season. Nebraska opened 5-0 and has averaged 13.5 points during the losing streak, CBS Sports reported. The Cornhuskers are 5-4 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten.
Rhule met with reporters Monday for the first time since the move, On SI reported.
“I don’t think the offense is broken,” Rhule explained. “I don’t think we have bad players, I don’t think we have bad coaches.”
Five days before the firing, Rhule had called Holgorsen “one of the best offensive minds of our generation.” Nebraska has scored 54 points in the four losses. On Monday, Rhule also extended defensive coordinator Rob Aurich for two more seasons, WOWT reported.
Quarterback Injuries Sideline Dante Moore And Julian Sayin
Oregon’s offense had been without Dante Moore since he sustained a concussion against USC on Sept. 26. He had thrown for 926 yards, 9 touchdowns, and no interceptions before the injury. On Oct. 26, Oregon coach Dan Lanning said he does not expect Moore back this season, On SI reported.
“I’m not anticipating him being back this season, no,” Lanning said.
Lanning had fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer on Oct. 25, a day after a 21-10 loss at Illinois dropped the Ducks to 4-3.
“Drew has been a valued member of this staff since 2022, and I am appreciative of everything he’s done for Oregon,” Lanning explained in a statement.
Staff member Jay Johnson took over play-calling, FootballScoop reported. Since then, Oregon has beaten the Northwestern Wildcats and won at the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Ducks are No. 18 in the AP Top 25 at 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten.
Ohio State has played without Julian Sayin since he hurt his right throwing arm in the fourth quarter of a 19-15 win at the Indiana Hoosiers on Oct. 17. Three days later, Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Sayin is out indefinitely, AP reported. Freshman Luke Fahey will remain the Buckeyes’ starter against Northwestern this week, theScore reported.
At Michigan, Bryce Underwood also lost his starting job. True freshman Tommy Carr replaced him during a comeback win over the Penn State Nittany Lions, and Carr started Saturday’s 15-6 home loss to the Michigan State Spartans. Michigan scored its only touchdown with 1:35 left, avoiding its first shutout since 2014. The Wolverines have been held scoreless in the first half three times this season, the first time that has happened since 1979.
Michigan announced Sunday that it had fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck. Coach Kyle Whittingham named offensive line coach Jim Harding the interim offensive coordinator, WXYZ reported.
“Jason is a great man and coach, and unfortunately, it did not work out the way that we wanted it to at Michigan,” Whittingham said in a statement.
Under Beck, Michigan ranked 132nd of 138 FBS teams in total offense and 126th in scoring, AP reported. The Wolverines are 5-4 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten.
“There’s just too much regression in the offense in that particular game,” Whittingham explained Monday.
Big Ten Defenses Fill The FBS Top 10 As Coordinator Firings Mount
Five of the top 10 FBS defenses in yards allowed per play are in the Big Ten, led by Indiana at 4.08.
“There’s no better-coached conference in college football,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said.
Big Ten Network analyst Ryan Kerrigan cited Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines and Phil Parker of the Iowa Hawkeyes. On defense, Illinois fired coordinator Bobby Hauck after a 2-2 start, and the Purdue Boilermakers fired defensive coordinator Kevin Kane on Sunday after a 34-29 loss to the Maryland Terrapins.
Nebraska plays at the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at 11:30 a.m. CT on Saturday on BTN, On SI reported. Rutgers is 2-6 and 1-5 in the Big Ten.
Oregon hosts Michigan the same day. Nebraska then hosts Ohio State on Nov. 21 and Iowa on Nov. 27, and it needs one more win to become bowl eligible. Michigan closes the regular season at home against UCLA and at Ohio State.
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