JJ McCarthy explains when he knew this Michigan team was special

Michigan has spent the entire season as a Top-5 team but, before the year, several wondered how the Wolverines would come close to 2021’s team that won the Big Ten and made the CFP. Now, after they won their conference for the second straight year, they’re set to make their second consecutive CFP this weekend. While many doubted they’d be back at this point so soon, sophomore QB JJ McCarthy said he knew this would happen from the start.

During his Fiest Bowl press conference, McCarthy said he felt like this team could be great after some offseason drills. It was especially true of the ones that worked with their late-game execution. He went on to say that it stems from he and his teammates wanting to get better daily. That’s what separates them from everybody else to him.

“Probably going back to the offseason when we had our first fourth-quarter finisher. Everybody was just eating it up,” said McCarthy.

“This was a team that just wanted nothing more but to get better and strive for greatness. We relish in the hard work,” McCarthy said. “I think that was something that separates us from a lot of other teams from the past. And from teams that we go up against.”

Several doubted Michigan even as recently as heading into this year’s edition of The Game. The winner between them and Ohio State was set up to win the Big Ten and make the CFP. Considering it was in Columbus and Ohio State’s success, many backed the Buckeyes. In the end, though, Michigan more than earned their respect with that specific win.

Now, after knowing they were capable of this from the very beginning, McCarthy and Michigan could prove themselves right by winning it all in the CFP. That effort will start this weekend when they’ll kick off their potential title run against TCU in Glendale on Saturday afternoon.