Ryan Day on facing QB Cade McNamara: 'Coming into an environment like this is something he's used to'

Cade McNamara has already been part of two wins over Ohio State, first as Michigan‘s starting quarterback in 2021 and then as the Wolverines’ backup in 2022. Now Iowa‘s QB1, McNamara finds himself in another meeting with his old program’s arch rival, as the 18.5-point underdog Hawkeyes gear up for a trip to Columbus this week.

“A veteran quarterback who has played a lot of football,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said of McNamara, when he was asked Wednesday about facing the Michigan-turned-Iowa quarterback.

“Coming into an environment like this is something he’s used to. He’s playing good football right now and has made some really good throws this year. So, a veteran quarterback can go a long way in this conference, especially on the road.”

Two seasons ago, McNamara hit the transfer portal two days after J.J. McCarthy quarterbacked the Wolverines to a 45-23 win in Ohio Stadium, Michigan’s first victory in Columbus since 2000.

The On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 13 quarterback and No. 277 overall prospect in the 2019 class, McNamara originally committed to Notre Dame before flipping to Michigan, where he spent the first four years of his career. He sat behind Shea Patterson in 2019 and then eventually overtook Joe Milton III as the team’s starter amid a rocky, COVID-19-affected 2020 season.

Despite the arrival of McCarthy in 2021, McNamara held onto the starting role after his redshirt freshman campaign, which was shortened because of the pandemic. His third year with the Wolverines was his best: He helped them snap an eight-game losing streak to Ohio State and win their first Big Ten title under then-head coach and program icon Jim Harbaugh. That gave Michigan a long-awaited College Football Playoff berth, although it lost to Georgia, 34-11, in the Orange Bowl CFP semifinal matchup.

That season, McNamara threw for 2,576 yards while posting a 15:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The following year, Michigan carried its quarterback competition three games into the regular season, with McCarthy ultimately winning the job and leading the Wolverines back to the CFP.

McNamara transferred to Iowa last offseason but started only five games. He missed the rest of the year with an ACL tear. But he returned for the 2024 season, his sixth year in the collegiate ranks.

His Hawkeyes are off to a 3-1 start, and he’s completing 62.7% of his passes with 588 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions to his name.

“He’s a different player now, obviously a lot more experienced,” said Ohio State senior defensive end Jack Sawyer, who played four defensive snaps in the 2021 loss to Michigan, per Pro Football Focus.

“But you can definitely look back and pick up a little bit from those previous games when he was with ‘The Team Up North.’ He’s also a different player now, in a different system. So it’s kind of hard to really pick something that’s going to be, really, exactly the same.”

McNamara was 13-of-19 for 159 yards with one pick and no touchdowns in Michigan’s 42-27 win over Ohio State three seasons ago. Sawyer was asked Wednesday if there’s any added motivation to get to the quarterback this week, with that history in mind.

Sawyer chuckled, then had this to say: “Maybe a little bit. Yeah, definitely.”