JJ McCarthy shares Michigan's mindset for Ohio State game in 2023

Michigan and Ohio State don’t bother to hide what ‘The Game’ means to them and for their seasons. The series has only become more interesting in the past two seasons, though, with the Wolverines taking the last two off of the Buckeyes.

Still, Michigan QB JJ McCarthy doesn’t want to neglect what comes first. As he said in an interview on ‘Bussin’ With The Boys’ on Thursday, he reminded many that the Wolverines have 11 other steps to make before they take that very important one on that final Saturday in November.

“My opinion is always going to start with just step by step, break by break,” McCarthy said. “Michigan State, Penn State, and then they’re in the way of our ultimate goals.”

With that said, McCarthy also didn’t diminish the season-long impact of that game on their year. The Buckeyes are a bitter rival that he says gives them someone to hunt over the course of the season before they ever actually meet up in the regular season finale.

“I feel like we’re not sitting there thinking that we’re 2-0 against them,” said McCarthy. “We’re hunting them always. We’re never going to feel like we’re hunted by them. It’s always just chasing them, no matter what it is, and just doing what we’re continuing to do.”

McCarthy was the catalyst in Columbus in 2022 when Michigan stunned Ohio State with a second consecutive win in the series after having lost eight straight and 15 of the last 16 to the Buckeyes. He threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another score in their 45-23 win inside The Shoe.

Whether anyone likes it or not, this is going to be a story, nationally and in the Big Ten, all season long. However, McCarthy is trying to place the appropriate amount of focus on it as Michigan aims to win three straight over Ohio State for the first time since 1997.

Mark Ingram on Michigan’s national championship chances: ‘The time is now’

There’s no better time than the present for Michigan to win a national championship, according to former Heisman Trophy-winning running back Mark Ingram.

The Wolverines have found themselves in the College Football Playoff in each of the last two years. Still, since they have nothing to show for it yet, it could be now or never.

“If they have any opportunity to do it? It’s now,” Ingram said on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. “You have JJ McCarthy coming back. You have Blake Corum, Donovan Edwards, who I think is a super underrated running back. I think in Blake Corum’s absence he was averaging like 160 rush yards per game. He comes out of the backfield, has smooth hands.”

“The defense was one of the top 10 defenses the last two years. So you have Harbaugh teaching these guys to play physical, playing smart. And you have half your starters coming back or over half your starters coming back? I think the time is now for Michigan.”

Michigan has but regular season loss since 2021 and has won two-straight Big Ten championships — which means they’ve earned consecutive wins over Ohio State — but there’s still more to be done. But the questions remain — is this the group that can finally bring a national title back to Ann Arbor? Or will history repeat itself in the postseason for the third year in a row?