Michigan football quarterback comparison to other top Big Ten QBs

We are only one game into the 2023 season, though the rivalry talk is once again getting heated heading into this weekend’s second slate of games. For the Wolverines, who downed ECU by 27 points last weekend, Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy has been incredible thus far — let’s take a look at how he stacks up to other top Big Ten QBs.

A closer look at Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy heading into Week 2 of the season

Last weekend, Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy dazzled the nation, setting a Michigan program record during the Wolverines’ season opener against ECU. McCarthy now has the highest single-game completion percentage (min. 30 passes) of any Wolverine quarterback and was the top-graded player (PFF) in the Big Ten last weekend. Here are a few stats that you need to know about JJ heading into Week 2:

• RECORD: 1-0
• COMPLETION PERCENTAGE: 87% (26/30)
• TOUCHDOWNS: 3
• PASSING YARDS: 280
• INTERCEPTIONS: 0

Notably, Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy ranks 3rd nationally in completion percentage and 8th nationally in quarterback rating (95.4).

Drew Allar — Penn State

The second-best player in the Big Ten last weekend was arguably Penn State sophomore quarterback Drew Allar, who led his Nittany Lions to an impressive Week 1 victory over long-time rival West Virginia. Allar, who got his first college start last Saturday, was a five-star high school QB and is expected to do some big things in State College — here is how he stacks up to JJ McCarthy so far.

• RECORD: 1-0
• COMPLETION PERCENTAGE: 72% (21/29)
• TOUCHDOWNS: 3
• PASSING YARDS: 325
• INTERCEPTIONS: 0

Drew Allar currently ranks 22nd in quarterback rating (86.0) and 35th in completion percentage.

Kyle McCord — Ohio State

Perhaps the most disappointing of the major Big Ten quarterbacks last weekend was Kyle McCord of Ohio State, who led the Buckeyes to an underwhelming victory over Indiana.

• RECORD: 1-0
• COMPLETION PERCENTAGE: 60.6% (20/33)
• TOUCHDOWNS: 0
• PASSING YARDS: 239
• INTERCEPTIONS: 1

McCord and Ohio State escaped with a win, but it was not pretty. His QBR of 78.1 ranks him 30th nationally heading into Week 2.

Cade McNamara — Iowa

Ah, the one that we have all been waiting for — former Michigan football quarterback and team captain Cade McNamara. Back in 2021, he led the Wolverines to a Big Ten title victory; however, after losing the job to JJ McCarthy in Week 2 of the 2022 season, McNamara hit the portal and headed to Iowa.

• RECORD: 1-0
• COMPLETION PERCENTAGE: 56.6% (17/30)
• TOUCHDOWNS: 2
• PASSING YARDS: 191
• INTERCEPTIONS: 0

The ex-Michigan football star has a quarterback rating of 35.9 (100th nationally) heading into this weekend’s game against the Iowa State Cyclones.

So far, it appears that Michigan football has the No. 1 quarterback in the Big Ten; however, being only one game into the season, we will have to wait and see how the remainder of the year pans out for the Big Ten conference.

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