It feels like it went by way too fast, doesn’t it?
JJ McCarthy committed to the Michigan Wolverines back in May of 2019, and it was at that moment that most Michigan fans knew Jim Harbaugh had finally found his guy. The highly rated prospect out of La Grange Park (IL) immediately became a fan-favorite before he even stepped foot on campus, and it felt like it was only a matter of time before the starting job would be his.
McCarthy would play the backup role to former U-M quarterback Cade McNamara as a freshman during the 2021 season, but even in a limited role there were still flashes of greatness. Early into his freshman year, it soon became apparent that McCarthy’s skillset was one that had been lacking in Ann Arbor for quite some time. He had the arm, the athleticism, the quickness, and the mentality to help guide the Wolverines to new heights – and he certainly did just that.
Entering his sophomore season in a quarterback battle with McNamara, McCarthy would end up winning the starting job by week two of the 2022 season. His first start came in the Big House under the lights against Hawaii and, after a significant rain delay, McCarthy put on a show to the 110,000+ fans who waited to see No. 9’s first career start. The Wolverines won by a score of 56-10, and McCarthy finished the evening by completing 11-of-12 attempts for 229 yards and three touchdowns.
Later that same year, the No. 3 Wolverines (11-0) would enter their road matchup with No. 2 Ohio State (11-0) having not won a game in the Horseshoe in over two decades. Facing an elite offense in one of the toughest environments to win a game in all of college football, the Michigan Wolverines dominated the Buckeyes in Columbus by a score of 45-23. McCarthy finished the afternoon completing 12-of-24 attempts for 263 yards and three touchdowns through the air, along with another 27 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
Michigan would go on to win its second consecutive Big Ten Championship and make its second straight appearance in the College Football Playoff. It seemed like McCarthy was primed to take the Wolverines to a national championship in 2022, but an upset loss to TCU put those goals on hold for another year.
McCarthy arrived at the postgame press conference looking a bit dejected, but the reality was that he was more determined than ever in that moment.
“We’ll be back,” McCarthy said. “I promise you that.”
And with that, McCarthy walked away from the podium and immediately began putting in the work for the 2023 season.
With several key players announcing their return for one more run at a national championship in 2023, McCarthy had all of the weapons around him to get the job done. It became pretty clear early on that the work he had put in during the off-season was paying off in a major way. McCarthy was precise, efficient, and making NFL-caliber throws on a regular basis each Saturday. In spite of the distractions that continued to surround the team, McCarthy helped lead the Wolverines with a steady hand and a calming presence that impacted everyone around him.
Much like 2022, No. 3 Michigan would once again enter that final regular season matchup against No. 2 Ohio State with everything on the table. A trip to the Big Ten Championship, a spot in the College Football Playoff, and a shot at the national championship were all on the line. Much like 2022, the Wolverines emerged victorious. The 30-24 victory didn’t require a superhuman effort from McCarthy, he just needed to do what he had done all season long – play smart and play efficient. He finished the afternoon completing 16-of-20 attempts for one touchdown and no turnovers, which was exactly the type of performance the Wolverines needed from their QB1.
The following week, McCarthy was once again extremely efficient as the Wolverines comfortably defeated Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game by a score of 26-0. He finished the evening completing 22-of-30 attempts for 147 yards, and the victory meant that Michigan was once again headed back to the College Football Playoff for the third consecutive season.
Heading into this year’s edition of the CFP, there was a lot of uncertainty in terms of who No. 1 Michigan would face in the first round. Would it be Georgia? Texas? Florida State? As it turns out, the Wolverines would be paired up with the Crimson Tide, and a video from Michigan’s reaction that went viral gave many the impression that the Wolverines were dreading having to face Saban’s squad.
Not surprisingly, the interpretation of that video was quite misleading.
Those closest to the program knew that the Wolverines were hungry for a shot at the Crimson Tide, and that included McCarthy. Making things even more interesting, the two programs would square off in one of college football’s most historic stadiums, with the Semifinal matchup taking place in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl.
Things got off to a bit of a shaky start for McCarthy against the Crimson Tide, but he would ultimately settle in and help lead the Wolverines to victory once again. He finished the evening completing 17-of-27 attempts for 221 yards and three touchdowns, and Michigan’s – and he made several incredible plays to help keep the Wolverines alive in a close battle. Michigan’s 27-20 overtime victory over Alabama would propel the Wolverines into the National Championship game in Houston just one week later.
Entering the National Championship matchup against No. 2 Washington, much of the focus was on Michael Penix Jr. and the high-octane offense of the Huskies. As was often the case throughout the season, critics and analysts doubted McCarthy and his ability to win at the highest-level, in spite of the fact that he had proven the ability to do so time and time again. Michigan would end up winning the game convincingly, thanks in large part to a phenomenal effort by running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, along with a defense that proved to be one of the greatest defensive units in Michigan Football history.
McCarthy finished the evening completing 10-of-18 for 140 yards, along with another 31 yards rushing on the ground. In many ways, he did what he had done his entire career at Michigan…which is whatever was required.
As folks look back at McCarthy’s career in the future, they won’t see a guy who dominated the record books. From a statistical standpoint, he easily cemented himself among the top-ten quarterbacks all-time at the University of Michigan, but his influence and impact on this football program went far beyond what you can see statistically. It’s one of the many reasons that Harbaugh referred to McCarthy as the greatest quarterback that Michigan has ever had.
“I think the last quarterback to win in overtime against Alabama was none other than Tom Brady,” Harbaugh said. “I’ve said it before, but right here, this is the greatest quarterback in University of Michigan history.”
In addition to the arm strength, athleticism, and consistency, McCarthy will also be remembered for his willingness to win by any means necessary. As he often pointed out, he wasn’t interested in individual awards and accolades, but was instead driven by team success and achievements. He’s the type of quarterback that doesn’t come along very often, and he was exactly what Michigan needed in order to capture college football’s ultimate prize.
“Just for two seconds, I just ask you people that watch football…watch a lot of football, are experts and evaluators of quarterback play. Two seconds, just enjoy the ability of JJ McCarthy and the talent that he is as a passer, as a runner, as a leader,” Harbaugh said during the season. “That’s…it doesn’t come along every day, every year, every decade – you know, ever. I think he’s truly the best college Michigan quarterback that we’ve ever seen.”
After watching McCarthy perform over the last three years, I think most Michigan fans would agree Harbaugh’s assessment. A phenomenal athlete, the definition of selflessness, and a guy who impacted everyone he came into contact with in a positive way. They don’t make many like JJ McCarthy these days, and Michigan fans will be forever grateful that he chose to become a Michigan Man.
