ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Pushed to the side in all the, will-Michigan-running-back-Blake-Corum-be-able-to-play handwringing this week is the fact first-year starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy will be making his first start in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry in hostile, raucous Ohio Stadium.
Both teams are 11-0, with Ohio State and its high-scoring offense and No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings, and Michigan with run-first offense and No. 3 heading into the 118th edition of The Game on Saturday in Columbus. The winner takes the Big Ten East Division title and will play for the league championship and likely a spot in the four-team national playoff.
McCarthy won the starting job after his performance in the second game of the season and has directed the offense, which is No. 9 nationally in scoring an average of 39.4 points a game. But everyone knows Corum has carried the workload and the offense, leads the nation with 19 total touchdowns, including 18 rushing, and has made enormous contributions to Michigan as the No. 4 team nationally in rushing (243.8 yards per game).
Corum injured his left knee late in the first half of last Saturday’s game against Illinois, ran the ball once in the second half before sitting out the rest of the game. His status for The Game is uncertain, but what always has been clear is Ohio State more than likely always planned to attempt to make Michigan one-dimensional and challenge McCarthy to win the game.
McCarthy has competed 66.8% of his attempts for 1,952 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions this season. He is averaging 177.5 yards passing per game. He ranks 26th nationally in pass efficiency.
His coach, Jim Harbaugh, has been the Michigan quarterback playing at Ohio State and gleefully shared this week his message to McCarthy.
“Have at it,” Harbaugh said of what he planned to tell McCarthy. “It’s pretty cool. Coming off of fourth-quarter comeback win in the last minute (last week against Illinois), game-winning drive. That doesn’t happen to quarterbacks that often and to be in that situation first time and win it, he’s just got it.
“Talked about turning water to wine. I made that comment back in the summer that he had that ability. So glad that he’s on our team. He’s fiercely protective of the team. He’s a tremendous teammate. But he’s got that grit and determination. I wouldn’t tell him anything more than that — just go have at it.”
Harbaugh has referred to McCarthy and his cool demeanor, as in, unflappable, as being an "Ice Man." His teammates have confirmed that the 19-year-old starter is always in the moment and never alters his demeanor.
“J.J.’s very loose,” center Olu Oluwatimi said this week. “I love that from a quarterback, just being able to, no matter what the outcome of the previous play, focus on that next play and do it at a high caliber and do it while smiling, having fun. I love being in the huddle with J.J.”
McCarthy centers himself through meditation, first in the morning when he wakes up, and on gameday, his tradition is to mediate on the field by the goalpost. He will do so again on Saturday.
“You're just setting yourself back to when I'm in my bedroom, in the woods or back in the Big House,” McCarthy said this week. “It just brings you back to inside yourself and centering yourself and it's just huge. No matter what environment I'm in, I just feel at home.”
McCarthy reads inspirational books and often posts meaningful quotes on his social media. When asked about Harbaugh’s “have at it” advice, he said it’s about being authentic and true to yourself as you prepare for a game and then during the game.
“The saying that we love around here is just, ‘do you,’” McCarthy said. “And I'm gonna do me. What I did to get me here, I’m gonna do that Saturday for sure.”
He carries himself in an upbeat manner, always wishing everyone a great day, always smiling. What you see is what you get, his teammates said. The guy who smiles during interviews is the same one who is all smiles in a locker room. Beneath that, though, is a competitiveness that Harbaugh earlier this season said reminds him of himself.
His teammates see that, too.
“He's an extremely calm player. He doesn't get too high doesn't get too low,” left tackle Ryan Hayes said. “I always try to talk to him during the game, but I don't think he really needs anyone talking to him. I think he just has that about him. Some people have that, and he has it.”
Michigan hasn’t won in Ohio Stadium since 2000 when Drew Henson was quarterback. He said this week that from his observations this season, McCarthy absolutely has what it takes to beat the Buckeyes in Columbus, just as he did 22 years ago.
“Historically, you’ve got to make plays to beat your rival,” Henson said. “It’s not a normal game plan, it’s not a normal game. There’s usually a few critical moments that have big roles in the outcomes, and having a quarterback that’s a playmaker like he is and has that part of his game is a huge advantage. That being said, it’s all about opportunities and making the most of the opportunities.”
McCarthy is grateful for the moment. He mentioned how he was a fan of former OSU quarterback Braxton Miller and also loved Michigan’s passion in this rivalry.
“Feels just like the stars are aligning, like it's finally here,” McCarthy said. “It's meant to be, and we couldn't be more excited for it, honestly. We just can't wait to get out there and have some fun on Saturday.”
He said he is unfazed by all the stories about the hostile Ohio Stadium environment.
“At the end of the day, it’s really all just noise and all just a bunch of fans that like to boo you and don't like you very much,” McCarthy said. “You just do whatever you can to transmute that and use it against them. I feel like a lot of situations we've been through this year with facing adversity on the road and being in Iowa is just going to help us tremendously this weekend.”
Several times recently Harbaugh has referred to his players as "happier warriors". McCarthy shared a Chinese saying as a way to affirm his coach's observation.
"When he mentions that, I like going back to the quote, ‘Better be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war,'" McCarthy said. "We absolutely have so much joy playing this game. There's that deep warrior inside of us that no matter what it takes, we're gonna get it done."
That's McCarthy's goal.
