Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy is about to pass Jim Harbaugh

Over the weekend, Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy and his Wolverines blew past the Michigan State Spartans by a score of 49-0 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. This weekend, the Wolverines have a bye; however, next weekend, Michigan will be hosting the Purdue Boilermakers in their final “gimme” game of the 2023 season. Against Purdue in Week 11, McCarthy could pass a name that all fans are quite familiar with: Jim Harbaugh.

Michigan football JJ McCarthy is about to pass Jim Harbaugh

Jim Harbaugh, who is in his 9th season as head coach of the Michigan football program, is one of the greatest quarterbacks in program history. During his time in Ann Arbor, he threw for 5,214 yards and 31 touchdowns with 19 interceptions, leading the Maize and Blue to some incredible seasons along the way.

On Saturday, JJ McCarthy passed the legendary Tom Brady in the school record books just one drive into his win over Michigan State. Next weekend, against Purdue, he could pass his head coach Jim Harbaugh as well.

Right now, JJ McCarthy has 5,034 passing yards, 45 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions throughout his Michigan football career — with a mere 181-yard game against the Boilermakers, he will once again move up in school record books, moving into the No. 8 spot all-time.

McCarthy could surpass Harbaugh’s on-field legacy

It’s also worth noting that Jim Harbaugh finished 3rd in Heisman Trophy voting back in 1986 — a year that Michigan football went 11-2 and won the Big Ten title. Heading into Week 9, JJ McCarthy is No. 1 in the updated Heisman odds and has his Wolverines sitting pretty at 8-0 (5-0 Big Ten) heading into the bye, so surpassing Harbaugh’s on-field legacy entirely is still in the cards for the junior Michigan football quarterback as well.

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