ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan quarterbacks are alternating starts for at least the first two weeks of the season, and that’s something returning starter Cade McNamara didn’t see coming.
McNamara started Michigan’s 51-7 season-opening rout of Colorado State on Saturday at Michigan Stadium, and next week in a night game against Hawaii, J.J. McCarthy will start. McCarthy also played in the opener. The alternating starts are according to the plan coach Jim Harbaugh laid out a week ago. He said it’s possible they alternate a few more starts — the first month of Michigan’s schedule certainly allows for it — before determining a starter.
Last season, McNamara helped lead the team to a 12-2 record and a Big Ten championship, and McCarthy, the backup as a freshman, also saw playing time. Harbaugh said the quarterbacks were “neck and neck” during preseason camp.
“I’d definitely say it’s pretty unusual,” McNamara said after the game of the plan to alternate. “It was kind of a thing I wasn’t expecting by the end of camp. I thought I had my best camp. I thought I put myself in a good position. That was just a decision coach went with.”
McNamara had a slow start and some dropped passes. He started 1 of 5 with the lone completion a 61-yarder to Roman Wilson for a touchdown. He finished 9 of 18 for 136 yards. Under his direction, Michigan had three red-zone opportunities that stalled at the Colorado State 13-, 8- and 16-yard lines. Jake Moody made field goals each time.
McCarthy came in for one play in the second quarter and then took over early in the third quarter. On his first drive, he scored on a 20-yard touchdown. McCarthy was 4 of 4 for 30 yards, and he ran three times for 50 yards.
“I thought things were operating really smooth in the first half and finally said, ‘Hey, let's get J.J. in there,’ ” Harbaugh said. “And he was electric when he got in, no question about that. Thought he also went through his reads very well. It was great to see him just real super calm, cool, collected. I think that's been conveying,”
Harbaugh also praised McNamara’s outing, mentioned there were a couple dropped balls and said he executed well. McNamara was voted a captain by his teammates just before the end of camp and that coupled with how well he believed he performed in camp are among the reasons he seemed startled by the decision to alternate starts.
“I was confident in the way I performed over camp. Definitely felt that way,” McNamara said. “It’s just not my decision. Whatever it is, whatever my role is, I’m honored my teammates recognized me for the role that I have currently.”
McNamara was asked if this situation, however it plays out, can work.
“I think coach mentioned he doesn’t really want to do the switching this year,” McNamara said. “I think however it shakes out, that’s just how it’s going to be.”
For his part, McNamara said he has dealt with plenty of adversity during his Michigan career, first in 2020 with then-starter Joe Milton, whom McNamara replaced on the road at Rutgers and was then awarded the start the following game. Last season, he was the starter, but McCarthy came in with different offensive packages.
“At this point, I have a callus made on how to deal with these things,” McNamara said.
Harbaugh was asked how he might have to manage McNamara and this situation.
“I don't feel like I have to manage it,” Harbaugh said. “It's just they're both tremendous competitors. Both are warriors. I don't feel like I gotta manage anything. I just gotta let them go out there and compete and do what they do.”
