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WATCH: J.J. McCarthy says Michigan won't 'have that same taste in our mouth' after College Football Playoff this season

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham•12/03/22•

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 03: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Michigan Wolverines looks to throw a pass downfield during the first half of the Big Ten football championship game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 03, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)

For the second-straight season, Michigan is Big Ten Champion — this time after besting Purdue, 43-22 — and has won 13 games in a season for the first time in the history of the program, one incepted in 1897. But quarterback J.J. McCarthy has bigger goals on his mind, College Football Playoff goals.

Speaking with Fox’s Alison Williams on the field after leading the Wolverines to a win, McCarthy recalled how Michigan felt leaving the field following a 34-11 loss to Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinals. He vowed that the Wolverines won’t be feeling that way again.

“We said we were going to be back, last year,” McCarthy said. “And it’s just amazing that we are back. And we’re not going to have that same taste in our mouth as last year, that’s for sure.”

Michigan is now 13-0 with the win, but getting the repeat Big Ten crown wasn’t a sleepwalk. At the half, Michigan led the Boilermakers by a slim margin, 14-13.

Behind McCarthy and game MVP Donovan Edwards — filling in for the injured Blake Corum — the Wolverines pulled away for a comfortable win in the second half. It’s been a season-long trend and one the team trusted in all along.

“I mean we’ve been in that situation before, multiple times. And it wasn’t really anything but the usual ‘We’ve got 30 minutes. Give it our all.’ And we’re the best second half team in the country and it showed again,” McCarthy said.

Repeating as Big Ten Champions was a goal for the Wolverines since Michigan topped the conference a season ago.

McCarthy couldn’t point to any one thing — it was just something they were all working for.

“Everything we’ve done every single week. The constant preparation that was done in the offseason and the execution on a weekly basis. So we’re just,” McCarthy said, pausing briefly, “we’re doing us and it worked out.”