It was always going to come down to him.
Ever since then-starting quarterback Cade McNamara floundered under the pressure of Georgia’s defense in 2021, and the freshman dashed in for limited relief; ever since he threw the sole touchdown to then-freshman wideout Andrel Anthony to show a glimmer of potential in a hopeless game; ever since he declared in anguish that Michigan would return after a rollercoaster loss to TCU, there was only ever one answer.
The answer was J.J. McCarthy.
When the time inevitably comes, the first-ranked Wolverines will rely on their junior signal-caller, their five-star, the quarterback who helped turn around a program in mediocrity — to change the game.
“He’s playing the best football I’ve ever seen him play,” quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell told The Michigan Daily Saturday. “He’s throwing the ball as well as I’ve ever seen him throw — anybody I’ve ever seen throw the ball for that matter.”
Be that as it may, it won’t fully translate until Monday. After an electric offensive start to the season, followed by a quieter output to finish it, McCarthy has yet to fully play his A-game against prime opponents. Rivalry victories, a Big Ten Championship and a No. 1 ranking in the College Football Playoff smoothed any discontent. McCarthy’s play was, at the very least, enough. And when things are going right and wins keep coming, complaints are few and far between.
Now though, a new challenger approaches. No. 4 Alabama comes in at a different stage than Michigan. Winning the SEC Championship by knocking off the former No. 1 team in the nation, and doing so by looking better and better with each passing week, suddenly for the Wolverines, good enough isn’t good enough.
If Michigan wants to win, it needs a J.J. McCarthy who is playing the best football of his career.
When the time inevitably comes, the first-ranked Wolverines will rely on their junior signal-caller, their five-star, the quarterback who helped turn around a program in mediocrity — to change the game.
“He’s playing the best football I’ve ever seen him play,” quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell told The Michigan Daily Saturday. “He’s throwing the ball as well as I’ve ever seen him throw — anybody I’ve ever seen throw the ball for that matter.”
Be that as it may, it won’t fully translate until Monday. After an electric offensive start to the season, followed by a quieter output to finish it, McCarthy has yet to fully play his A-game against prime opponents. Rivalry victories, a Big Ten Championship and a No. 1 ranking in the College Football Playoff smoothed any discontent. McCarthy’s play was, at the very least, enough. And when things are going right and wins keep coming, complaints are few and far between.
Now though, a new challenger approaches. No. 4 Alabama comes in at a different stage than Michigan. Winning the SEC Championship by knocking off the former No. 1 team in the nation, and doing so by looking better and better with each passing week, suddenly for the Wolverines, good enough isn’t good enough.
If Michigan wants to win, it needs a J.J. McCarthy who is playing the best football of his career.
