Michigan’s head coach, Jim Harbaugh, has been effusive in his admiration for second-year starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who has propelled the Wolverines to the brink of their first undisputed national championship in 75 years.
After Michigan’s thrilling overtime victory against Alabama in the Rose Bowl, Harbaugh went on record to declare McCarthy as “the greatest quarterback” in the program’s history. McCarthy, however, remains modest and somewhat uncomfortable with the avalanche of compliments.
“It’s just my personality,” McCarthy humbly stated. “I’m tremendously grateful for him being my head coach. His kind words mean a lot, and it’s a blessing to play under his guidance.”
It’s important to note that Harbaugh was specifically referring to McCarthy’s college football career when he made this proclamation, distinguishing it from the illustrious post-college journey of former Michigan quarterback Tom Brady, who achieved legendary status in the NFL.
Harbaugh clarified, saying, “But in a college career, there’s been nobody at Michigan better. He is that guy.”
This parallel between McCarthy and Brady extends to a shared achievement: Both led Michigan to overtime victories against the Crimson Tide. In his final college game, Brady threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns, propelling the Wolverines to a 35-34 triumph over Alabama in the 2000 Orange Bowl.
For McCarthy, being mentioned in the same breath as Tom Brady is a tremendous honor. “Everything about Tom, like every aspect of his life, every aspect of his game, you want to aspire to be like it. Just hearing that gives you reassurance that you’re on the right path and doing the right things.”
While Brady is unequivocally regarded as the greatest NFL quarterback, Harbaugh’s assessment holds true for the college level. McCarthy, even before the College Football Playoff National Championship against Washington, has a compelling case for being the best quarterback in Michigan’s history.
McCarthy maintains a stellar record of 26 wins and just one loss as a starter over the past two seasons. His winning percentage of 96.2% is the best among Bowl Subdivision starters in the last decade, making him the quarterback with the best overall record in Michigan’s history among those with more than 20 career starts.
Acknowledging the team effort behind his success, McCarthy shared, “It all takes the team. It all takes everyone, coaches, strength staff, nutrition staff. Everyone contributes to those 26 wins. It’s not just myself.”
He is also among the select few Michigan quarterbacks to remain undefeated against Ohio State across multiple starts, alongside the likes of Brian Griese, Michael Taylor, and Howard Yerges.
McCarthy’s statistics further solidify his claim to the throne. He holds the program record for career completion percentage (67.9%) and is on the cusp of setting the Wolverines’ single-season record at 73.2%. He also tops the charts for efficiency rating (161.6) and adjusted yards per attempt (9.5), while ranking second in career yards per attempt (8.8) behind Harbaugh himself.
Furthermore, McCarthy boasts the program’s best touchdown-to-interception ratio, with 49 touchdowns against 11 interceptions among Michigan quarterbacks with at least 20 career touchdowns. Despite making his first start only in the second game of last season, McCarthy ranks fifth in career passing yards (6,086) in Michigan’s history.
His influence extends beyond statistics, as McCarthy has guided the offense to an impressive 121 touchdowns and 44 field goals on the 284 drives in which he started and finished, translating to a touchdown rate of 43% and an overall scoring rate of 58% of all possessions.
Analyst and former Michigan tight end Jake Butt noted, “He checks every box.”
Additionally, McCarthy has another year of eligibility, which could potentially bolster his NFL draft prospects next year if he decides to return. However, for now, he remains focused on the immediate goal: securing Michigan’s first unshared national championship in over seven decades.
As the Wolverines prepare for the championship game against Washington, McCarthy has the chance to cement his legacy as the greatest passer in Michigan’s history.
The last time Michigan claimed an undisputed national crown was in 1948, led by quarterback Pete Elliott. Now, as they approach the pinnacle of college football once again, the Wolverines and their quarterback are poised to etch their names in history.
As quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell aptly puts it, “Get your popcorn ready because you’re about to watch the show of the best player in the country.”