J.J. McCarthy on advancing to national championship game: 'It's just really, really amazing'

In their third straight trip to the College Football Playoff, the Michigan Wolverines finally won their semifinal matchup and will now play for a national championship. The Wolverines, the No. 1 seed, took down the No. 4 seed and SEC champions, the Alabama Crimson Tide, in overtime 27-20, with quarterback J.J. McCarthy playing a considerable role in the victory.

After the huge victory, ESPN’s Laura Rutledge was able to catch up to the Michigan star quarterback, but not before he completed his postgame ritual by running across the field to get a rose. And before addressing his thoughts on Michigan’s chance to win the title, McCarthy explained why getting a rose was of the utmost importance.

“This game just means so much to me, and I have superstition like how they do the Stanley Cup. I didn’t touch it all week and I was just waiting for this moment to put it in my mouth,” said McCarthy.

Michigan is now just one win away from being crowned kings of the college football world. On Monday, January 8, the Wolverines will take on the winner of the other semifinal Sugar Bowl matchup between the Texas Longhorns and Washington Huskies. And with one last fight on the schedule for Michigan, McCarthy took an emotional dive into the trials and tribulations of this year and the emotions surrounding the program’s national championship quest and his head coach, Jim Harbaugh.

“I mean the fight started Week 1. I mean everything we’ve been through, all the adversity. It’s a team that goes through that adversity, it can’t get to the heights that we’re trying to reach. So I feel like we just did a tremendous job of responding through all that and pushing through. We’ve got one more game left, so job’s not finished yet.”

“It’s indescribable, just because the last two years, being able to watch the opposing team celebrate, it’s just different when I see the maize and blue confetti on the field. I’m nothing without this head coach, nothing without my teammates, nothing without that defense. I mean everything was so amazing, it’s just really, really amazing.”

McCarthy played a clean and efficient game from Michigan other ways to their Rose Bowl victory. The Wolverines quarterback would complete 17-27 of his pass attempts for 221 yards and three passing touchdowns. Wolverines star running back Blake Corum also played a considerable role in the victory with 19 carries for 83 yards, one rushing touchdown, and was on the receiving end of one of McCarthy’s TD passes. His lone rushing touchdown came in overtime, giving Michigan the lead and the victory on Monday night.