Michigan QB has great take on Ohio State rivalry

Ohio State has spent the better part of the last two decades bullying Michigan on the football field, but Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines finally got over the hump this past season. If you ask Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy, that is all that matters.

Michigan had lost eight straight and 15 of their previous 16 against Ohio State heading into their most recent meeting. They pounded the Buckeyes 42-27 at home. McCarthy was asked about that game during a recent interview with Wolverine Digest. He described the rivalry as “very personal” and said the game was “super, super nice to win.” McCarthy, who is entering his sophomore season, also noted that he doesn’t know anything other than beating Ohio State.

“For us, the whole 10-year stretch of us not winning — that’s all we know is beating Ohio State right now … so we’re going to keep that going,” McCarthy said.

The young man has a point. It may have taken Harbaugh years to beat Ohio State, but McCarthy and many other Michigan players are 1-0 against their rival.

McCarthy is a former five-star recruit who has a solid chance of winning the starting job next season. He made a big mistake when he got some playing time as a freshman (video here), but he was a highly touted prospect for a reason. Michigan may end up relying on him to lead them to back-to-back wins over Ohio State for the first time since 2000.

Photo: Dec 4, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports