The Michigan football team just won the Big Ten Championship for the third straight season and they are going back to the College Football Playoff for the third straight season as well. The Wolverines are the number one team in the country, and a big reason why is the play of quarterback JJ McCarthy. McCarthy has had a good year, and at one point, he was the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. The end of the season wasn't as strong for the Michigan QB as he went up against some stiff defenses, but he is still expected to go the NFL next year and potentially be a first round pick.

JJ McCarthy still has at least one more game for Michigan football team this season, but so far on the year, he is 213-287 for 2,630 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has an 89.2 QBR which is third in college football. His completion percentage is 74.2%. He has had a good year, but ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. isn't quite sold on him.

“It's Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, who has been one of the most difficult evaluations of this entire class,” Mel Kiper Jr. said in regards to who the QB wild card is, according to an article from ESPN. “He has the tools to be in the mix for that No. 3 QB spot, but he just didn't convince me down the stretch. Where were the “wow” throws? I didn't see him go through progressions much. Sure, he only had four interceptions, but three of those came against … Bowling Green? Plus, he wasn't asked to beat teams with his arm, partly because the Wolverines blew out all of their opponents until November. It's clear McCarthy has a ton of talent, but not all NFL teams are going to be in love with him, which means he could drop to Day 2. I have him as my No. 7 QB right now.”

McCarthy looked like he had taken some big strides from 2022 through the first nine games of the Michigan schedule, but he hasn't looked quite the same in the last four. That could be because of a slight injury McCarthy suffered, or because head coach Jim Harbaugh was gone for three of those games and the play-calling was more conservative.

Michigan and McCarthy will take the field next in their CFP semifinal clash against Alabama at the Rose Bowl. If the Wolverines are going to win that one, McCarthy will need to be bring his A-game.