Perhaps Michigan Wolverines quarterback JJ McCarthy will enter the Heisman running now that he’s officially the team’s starting quarterback.
Just this week, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh announced that McCarthy would be his main quarterback over Cade McNamara for the rest of the season, and oddsmakers have adjusted accordingly.
JJ McCarthy Heisman Odds
Per FanDuel, McCarthy saw his Heisman odds jump to +2000. That’s behind just CJ Stroud, Caleb Williams, and Bryce Young, who are all listed at +300 at the moment.
Throughout the offseason, Harbaugh was mum on who his starting quarterback would be for the season. And after giving McNamara the first game, McCarthy shined last week against Hawaii.
So far on the season, McCarthy has completed 15 of 16 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns, adding 66 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
“Yeah, J.J., he had a near flawless performance,” Harbaugh said after the Hawaii win. “11-for-12, and then one was dropped. That was tough to do. It’s tough to do any day of the week in practice. I thought he had a great game. He was playing really well. We’ll start J.J. next week.
Of course, Harbaugh was immediately pressed about whether him naming the sophomore the starter against Uconn meant that McCarthy would take over the reigns for the remainder of the season, and he admitted that it was the most likely scenario.
“Yeah, by merit, he’s earned that,” Harbaugh said. “By performance. By merit.”
Last season, it was McNamara who was able to lead the Wolverines to their first Big Ten Championship under Harbaugh after upsetting Ohio State mid-season. But now, the torch has officially been passed to McCathy.
Perhaps today’s game against Uconn will prove to be the start of great things to come for McCarthy and the Wolverines program.
