Michigan Football Quarterback Has Secret Weapon Against OSU

It all comes down to this weekend for the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) and the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0, 8-0), who will face off on Saturday at the Big House for a shot at the Big Ten title game and College Football Playoff. For Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy, this will be his third appearance in “The Game” — his second as the team’s starter — which gives him a secret weapon against the Scarlet and Grey this weekend. Here’s what he said on Monday.

Michigan football quarterback has a secret weapon on his side this weekend

So far, Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy has seen nothing but astounding success against his childhood favorite team: the Ohio State Buckeyes. In 2021, Michigan downed O-State 42-27 en route to its first Big Ten title since 2004. The year after, with McCarthy making his first start against the Buckeyes, the Wolverines improved on their success, winning 45-23 in Columbus.

JJ McCarthy looking to utilize his past experience against the Buckeyes

This fall, Ohio State has a new quarterback at the helm — Kyle McCord — who is said to be a huge factor in how JJ McCarthy ended up at Michigan football instead of Ohio State. On Saturday, with both teams’ seasons up for grabs, both the Wolverines and Buckeyes will need to rely on their quarterbacks, though McCarthy has a weapon on his side that McCord does not: experience in “The Game.”

“I think experience is one of the greatest edges you can have as a player,” JJ McCarthy explained on Monday afternoon. “Going into last year, that first drive, all those emotions that were creeping in — it was something I’ve never felt before. So now it’s predictable and, therefore, manageable.

“I’ll know how to handle my emotions and get them down to where they need to be. And yeah, I’d say it does a lot for me,” he added. “That’s for sure.”

It all comes down to this weekend for both Michigan football and Ohio State

Unlike JJ McCarthy, Kyle McCord has never started — or even seen a snap — in “The Game” against Michigan football. In fact, it took Ohio State coach Ryan Day a few weeks of play to officially name McCord the Buckeyes’ starter this fall.

There is a lot at stake this weekend, and a lot of national narratives and player/coach legacies will perhaps be entirely decided with this one game. JJ McCarthy knows what it takes to beat Ohio State, he knows how to do it, and he knows that Michigan’s Big Ten and national title aspirations hinge on downing the Buckeyes on Saturday. It all comes down to this weekend’s matchup — and everyone knows it.

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