Jim Harbaugh open to the possibility of Michigan quarterback competition continuing into the season

The quarterback competition in Michigan between Cade McNamara and JJ McCarthy could go on longer than anticipated. Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters on Wednesday that he is open to the possibility of the battle continuing into the season.

“It’s possible there’s a starter by the first game,” Harbaugh said via The Athletic’s Austin Meek. “It’s possible it plays into the season.”

Last season, the two quarterbacks split time at the position, and it proved effective as Michigan defeated Ohio State, won the Big Ten and made the College Football Playoff. McNamara was the official starter, throwing for 2,576 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. McCarthy, a top 100 recruit who ranked as the No. 9 quarterback in the 2021 class according to On3 Consensus, appeared in 11 games as his backup to finish 34-of-59 passing for 516 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.

Now heading into this season, it appears the two-quarterback system could again be the plan, at least to start things off. Michigan is set to kick off the 2022 regular season in a little more than two weeks on Sept. 3 against Colorado State.

Anonymous Big Ten coach weighs in on Michigan quarterback competition

An anonymous Big Ten coach spoke with ESPN’s Pete Thamel and said although McCarthy has an edge from a talent standpoint, the offense seems to be catered more toward McNamara. That’s why it’s hard to say which quarterback would be a better fit in the scheme.

“You just wonder: How are they going to get that thing to work?” the coach told Thamel. “You’ve got two quarterbacks, and McCarthy is actually more talented than McNamara. But what they’re asking McNamara to do, they’ve got a good run game going with good backs, so they don’t necessarily need McCarthy.

“But you can’t keep doing this oddball stuff with McCarthy and let McNamara run the show and expect them to keep getting along, nobody’s going to rock the boat.”

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.