The CFB Pulse: Weekly News That Actually Matters
Kevin dives into CFB news that you need to know!
The CFB Pulse exists to cut through the daily college football noise and surface the updates that actually matter for your C2C, CFF, and Devy leagues. We scour the college football landscape every week, coaching notes, depth-chart movement, portal ripples, injuries, whispers from inside programs, and distill it into actionable takeaways that help you stay ahead of your league mates before value fully catches up.
Now that we’ve turned the calendar to February, the news cycle begins to shift. It’s quieter on the surface, but this is where edges are quietly created. As winter conditioning rolls into spring camps, roles start to crystallize, usage clues emerge, and early momentum builds for players who will matter later this fall and beyond. The CFB Pulse is designed to catch those signals early, so by the time the rest of the market reacts, you’re already positioned.
Michigan’s New Offensive Direction: Jason Beck × Bryce Underwood
There’s real reason for optimism in Ann Arbor as the Michigan Wolverines turn the page offensively. Despite a coaching transition, Michigan retained the core of its offensive playmakers and added intriguing new talent, setting the stage for a potential leap in 2026. New head coach Kyle Whittingham tabbed Jason Beck as offensive coordinator, bringing over a proven system and philosophy that has already produced elite results at the Power Four level.
At Utah, Beck coordinated one of the nation’s most efficient and physical offenses, finishing top-five nationally in both points and yards per game while ranking first in yards per carry. That identity matters and it showed up immediately in how Beck discussed Michigan’s offense. His approach is flexible but intentional: install a trusted base, evaluate personnel, and then mold the offense around what the quarterback, offensive line, and skill players do best. It’s a quarterback-driven system, but one that still starts with physicality and a dominant run game.
That bodes extremely well for second-year starter Bryce Underwood. Beck’s early comments on Underwood centered less on raw talent, which is obvious, and more on the mental side of the position. Footwork, processing speed, and calm decision-making were recurring themes. The jump from year one to year two as a starter is often the biggest leap a quarterback makes, and that effect is magnified when year one came as a true freshman. Beck made it clear he expects the game to slow down for Underwood, allowing his arm talent and athleticism to shine within structure rather than chaos.
Personnel-wise, Michigan is quietly loaded. Underwood is joined by returning starters Jordan Marshall and Andrew Marsh, with high-upside newcomers ready to push the rotation. Early buzz out of camp points to Savion Hiter as a legitimate RB1 challenger, a back who could force Michigan into even more personnel versatility. And the sleeper name to file away now is Jaime Ffrench. His high school scouting profile paints the picture of a polished, physical pass catcher with strong hands, red-zone chops, and the ability to win both inside and outside. He may not be a burner, but his play strength, ball skills, and route nuance give him a real chance to carve out early volume.
Zooming out, Beck’s vision aligns perfectly with Michigan’s DNA: run the ball with authority, stay balanced, and attack through the air when defenses overcommit. The difference now is adaptability. Personnel will dictate formations, tempo, and emphasis, and that flexibility is exactly what allows young quarterbacks and emerging skill players to thrive. For C2C, CFF, and Devy managers, this is the type of February signal that matters. The infrastructure is in place, the philosophy is clear, and the talent is real. Michigan’s offense is trending up and getting in early could pay off.
