Michigan Football Coach Sounds Off On JJ McCarthy

PASADENA — The Michigan Wolverines are Rose Bowl Champions and will be playing for a national title against Washington next weekend, both things that fans could only dream of heading into the 2023 season. After downing Alabama in overtime last night, Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh was thrilled when he took the podium to speak about JJ McCarthy and more; in fact, he had some incredible praise for the Wolverines’ junior quarterback after the program-changing win.

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh has high praise for his junior quarterback

Jim Harbaugh and JJ McCarthy both have NFL decisions to make, meaning the national title game may be their last with the Maize and Blue. That said, with legacies on the line against Alabama in the Rose Bowl, the duo helped propel Michigan to a thrilling 27-20 victory over Nick Saban and his Alabama Crimson Tide, punching their ticket to the program’s first-ever national title game.

After the game, Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh, who is in his ninth season with U-M, dubbed JJ McCarthy the “greatest” quarterback in Michigan history and more.

“And in overtime against Alabama, I think the last quarterback to win in overtime against Alabama was none other than Tom Brady,” Jim Harbaugh said, referencing Brady’s 35-34 win over Alabama in the 2000 Orange Bowl. “I’ve said it before, but right here, (JJ McCarthy) is the greatest quarterback in University of Michigan — college football history.

“Got a long way to go to get to get where Tom Brady eventually got to, which is the ‘GOAT.’ He lapped the field when it came to that. But in a college career there’s been nobody at Michigan better than JJ (McCarthy),” Harbaugh said. “I know we talk about it as an amalgamation of quarterbacks. He is that guy.”

The moment Roman Wilson tied the game against Alabama. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/R8e121W5LF

— Blue By 90 (@bluebyninety) January 2, 2024

JJ McCarthy could win a national title for the Maize and Blue

This fall, JJ McCarthy surpassed names like Tom Brady, and yes, even Jim Harbaugh, in the stat column when it comes to their Michigan football careers. As Harbaugh mentioned, JJ has a long way to go when it comes to his total career, though as a Wolverine, few (if any) have done it better.

On Monday, JJ McCarthy and Jim Harbaugh could lead Michigan football to a feat that the program has not accomplished in nearly 30 years: winning a national title. Of course, Blue by Ninety will be in Houston for game week and game day coverage of the Wolverines — just as we have been all season long!

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