Roster continuity used to be the foundation of building a college football program, but in the transfer portal era, Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham has become one of the sport’s most vocal proponents of a plug-and-play approach. 

On the July 28 episode of The Rich Eisen Show, Whittingham spoke with Rich Eisen about changes in coaching.

"You do have to simplify your schemes a little bit because most teams in the country have about 50% of their players new every year, you know, 50-55 players. You've got to be more plug-and-play than you used to be, " Whittingham said.

Whittingham’s 50% figure is potentially on the higher end. STATSports puts average FBS turnover at 30–38%.

However, at the best programs, with portal additions and NFL attrition, that range makes sense. With that level of turnover, multi-year development becomes unrealistic.

When many new players arrive each year, coaches must focus on teaching the basics during spring and preseason. Because those players need first-team reps and roster spots are not fully settled, coaches have less time to install complex schemes, so long-term development becomes less realistic.

"You can't have a guy that comes and soaks in the system for two or three years, then he's ready to go," added Whittingham on The Rich Eisen Show. "You got to have systems that are user-friendly, and the guys can adapt to right away and get on the field."

This is evident in Whittingham's treatment of starter Bryce Underwood, who as a freshman missed out on targeted QB training. Rather than force a structure around him, Whittingham has constructed a game plan around his strengths, as he added later in the same video.

Success as a coach increasingly relies on adaptability and modular systems wherein transfers and freshmen can make an impact game one. Quarterback is where this is tested most elucidatively.

Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood gets new plan from Kyle Whittingham

After a year where the 6-foot-4 quarterback often looked out of rhythm, the 2026 plan leans into what he already does well.

Asked by Rich Eisen whether Underwood would get more chances to throw on the move, Whittingham didn't hold back. 

"We'll move the launch point around and get him out of the pocket. That's one of the things he's really good at, is extending the play. And you're right, to be throwing on the run as accurately as he does," Whittingham said in the same video.

Underwood completed 60.3% of his passes last season for 2,428 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions, adding 392 rushing yards and six scores on the ground.

Now it's on Whittingham to maximize that talent. Underwood gets his shot to show growth starting September 5 against Western Michigan.

What are your thoughts on Whittingham's take on a plug-and-play system? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at Michigan Football Community.

Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar