J.J. McCarthy explains his emotions of playing Alabama in College Football Playoff

J.J. McCarthy has been tremendous in 2023, but he recognizes the challenge in front of the Michigan Wolverines that the Alabama Crimson Tide present.

The Michigan quarterback has defeated each and every challenger over the last couple of months, but Alabama is a different animal. As the Wolverines prepare for the Crimson Tide, McCarthy took some time to explain what it means to be matched up against the legendary program in the College Football Playoff.

“Excitement. What a great opportunity, especially on the stage that we’re going to play on,” McCarthy said, regarding his emotions when he realized Michigan was matched up against Alabama in the College Football Playoff. “It’s a tremendous football team. It’s going to be a challenge for us, and we love challenges.”

Nevertheless, McCarthy represents a unique challenge for the Alabama defense entering the showdown. Over 13 games this season, he’s completed 74.2 percent of passes for 2,630 yards and 19 touchdowns with only four interceptions. That’s 202.3 yards per game and 1.46 touchdowns per game. 

Alabama’s defense has faced some awesome quarterbacks in 2023, and McCarthy will add his name to that list. But it remains to be seen if he does enough to lead the Wolverines beyond the challenge that the Crimson Tide represent.

All eyes will be on JJ McCarthy and the Michigan Wolverines come New Year’s Day. Michigan hasn’t had this great of a shot at a national title in a long time, and they need not squander their opportunity.

Jim Harbaugh delivers immense praise for JJ McCarthy after Big Ten Championship

Following the Big Ten Championship Game, Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh delivered overwhelming praise for quarterback JJ McCarthy.

Harbaugh explained that he would follow McCarthy to Hell and argued that he’s one of the best, if not the best, quarterback in all of college football.

“I would just add JJ McCarthy, I’ve said it before, I would follow him to Hell and back,” Harbaugh said. “Again, tonight…he made throws — the one throw he made, and it got called back for a holding call and some other great throws.”

Michigan won the Big Ten Championship Game 26-0 over Iowa. That was despite struggles on the offensive side of the ball. However, amid those struggles, Harbaugh praised McCarthy for his composure during the game. 

“Uncharacteristically we had some drops and uncharacteristically we had some protection issues and things that we’ll work on, and definitely Zak [Zinter] was missed. I mean, he never hung his head. Never got on anybody. He has just got this demeanor, and the more you hit him, the more he is just motivated to come back, which is amazing,” Harbaugh said.

“Plus, he is 20 years old. I think he is the best quarterback in the country. Some will argue, but he’s got to be the youngest of the best. I see some other guys that are reclassified and been around for forever, but he’s just a kid. He’s a 20-year-old kid doing the things that he’s done, and the record he has speaks for itself. … But the things you don’t see behind the scenes… you see the talent, but just the toughness and the dedication that he has for the team is unmatched.”

On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this article.