Michigan Football Quarterback Must Exploit Key UW Weakness

HOUSTON — On Monday, JJ McCarthy will become the first Michigan football quarterback in program history to lead his Wolverines into a national title bout, with the Maize and Blue slated to face No. 2 Washington for all the marbles. Ahead of the game, we did some searching for key weaknesses in the Huskies’ defense, and one category stands out as being especially bad: UW’s passing defense.

Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy must exploit Washington pass defense

This fall, Washington football ranks towards the bottom of college football in guarding the pass, ranking at No. 120 overall (of 130 teams ranked). Sure, UW played in the pass-heavy PAC-12 this season, but ranking as the sixth-worst Power Five passing defense in the sport is especially bad.

On Monday, Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy will have a chance to exploit this weakness in the Huskies’ defense, ideally bringing home a national title to Ann Arbor, MI, for the first time in decades. On the year, Washington is allowing an average of 267.1 passing yards per game; in comparison, Michigan’s passing defense (ranked No. 2 nationally) allows just 150 passing yards per game on average.

National title bout has massive implications

While Blake Corum and the Wolverines’ rushing attack will likely get priority in the national title game, at least in its earlier stages, Michigan football and JJ McCarthy must find a way to expose the Huskies’ secondary. On the season, McCarthy has thrown for 2,851 yards and 22 touchdowns — just three passing TDs from tying the single-season school record — not to mention his 89.4 QBR (ranked 3rd nationally).

JJ McCarthy is already a Michigan football legend, but a standout performance in the national title game on Monday could cement his status as the best to ever do it in the winged helmet.

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

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

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