J.J. McCarthy is the quarterback for No. 2 Michigan heading into the College Football Playoff semifinal matchup against No. 3 TCU at the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday, and this is the next spotlight game for the star quarterback.
The sophomore led the Wolverines to a 45-23 victory against the No. 2 Ohio State Nov. 26 for Michigan's first win at Ohio Stadium since 2000. He followed that up by leading the Wolverines to a resounding 43-22 victory against Purdue in the Big Ten championship game. That is quite a two-game stretch, and the former five-star recruit does not lack confidence. The playing style is similar to coach Jim Harbaugh, a star quarterback at Michigan who went on to success in the NFL.
"I personally and selfishly want to be known as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game," McCarthy said on the "Rich Eisen Show" on Dec. 27.
McCarthy has a chance to join a select group of Michigan quarterbacks over the next few weeks. Here are the need-to-know facts about McCarthy heading into the matchup against the Horned Frogs:
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J.J. McCarthy's path to starting job
Harbaugh mixed in McCarthy as a change-up for Cade McNamara during the Wolverines' Big Ten championship run in 2021. McCarthy hit 34 of 59 passes for 516 yards, five TDs and two interceptions.
McNamara and McCarthy alternated starts in Michigan's first two games before McCarthy took over the starting job. McCarthy won all 12 starts, and he finished with 2,376 passing yards, 20 TDs and three interceptions, but the offense revolved around running back Blake Corum, who suffered what would become a season-ending knee injury against Illinois on Nov. 19.
McCarthy responded with 263 yards and three TDs in the victory against Ohio State and 161 yards, three TDs and an interception in Purdue. Now, he will start in his first CFP semifinal.
Last Michigan QB to win national title
Michigan has not won a national championship since 1997. The last quarterback for the Wolverines to win the national championship as a starter was Brian Griese.
Griese led Michigan to a 12-0 record that season. He finished with 2,042 yards, 14 TDs and five interceptions. Griese helped Michigan beat Washington State 21–16 in the 1998 Rose Bowl. He finished 18 of 30 passing for 251 yards, two TDs and an interception. The Wolverines split the national title with Nebraska that season.
Michigan QBs in the BCS and CFP eras
Michigan was 2-3 in BCS bowl games from 1998-2013. Tom Brady led the Wolverines to a victory in the 2000 Orange Bowl against Alabama, and Denard Robinson was the quarterback in the 2012 Sugar Bowl against Virginia Tech. John Navarre and Chad Henne combined for a 0-3 record in BCS games.
This is Michigan's fourth New Year's Day Six Bowl. Wilton Speight, Shea Patterson and Cade McNamara were the starters in those games.
J.J. McCarthy draws inspiration from Tom Brady
McCarthy talked at length on "Rich Eisen Show" about his desire to follow in the footsteps of Brady, a two-year starter at Michigan who has won seven Super Bowls in the NFL since 2000.
"I have so much respect for (Brady) and everything he's done with what he's been given, but I'm chasing him," McCarthy said. "I'm chasing him. I texted him when I got here, and I told him, 'I want to get the ring that you didn't get.' That goes for this year and winning that national championship. Ultimately, the goal is to have more rings than that guy, and I'm going to do whatever I can to follow his blueprint and hopefully surpass him."
McCarthy also said he received a text from Brady after the victory against Ohio State on Nov. 26.
"He responded to me after the Ohio State game and said, 'Great job.' I just can't wait to build that relationship more and more and just pick his brain nonstop, annoy the heck out of him."
J.J. McCarthy and Jim Harbaugh
We are a long way from comparing McCarthy to Brady, but his style of play is comparable to Harbaugh, who was Michigan's quarterback from 1983-86. Harbaugh led Michigan to a victory against Nebraska in the 1986 Fiesta Bowl. The Wolverines back in the bowl for the first time since that game.
Harbaugh continues to be impressed with McCarthy, who has the Wolverines in position to play for a chance at the CFP championship game for the first time.
"The kid's got it all," Harbaugh said Thursday via the Detroit Free Press. "Tremendous talent, athleticism, work ethic. And a willingness to put the team as the highest priority. That's what every one of his teammates feels, knows, that this is never all about JJ, he makes it about the team and his teammates."
J.J. McCarthy in the College Football Playoff
McCarthy played extensively in the second half in the CFP semifinal loss to Georgia last season. He completed 7 of 17 passes for 131 yards and a TD, and that included 20 yards or more.
How McCarthy hits the deep pass will be a factor against TCU – and could give the Wolverines a chance for a rematch with either No. 1 Georgia or No. 4 Ohio State - who play in the nightcap at the CFP semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Saturday night.
According to Pro Football Focus, McCarthy was 11 of 37 (29.7%) on passes for 20 yards or more for 363 yards, two TDs and one interception in Michigan's first 11 games. In the games against Ohio State and Purdue, McCarthy was 6 of 13 (46.1%) for 235 yards and four TDs.
If McCarthy hits on those, then there is a good chance his place in Michigan lore will be solidified this year. He still has at least one more year as the starter, too.
