Michigan vs. Ohio State game: J.J. McCarthy claims to hold the wining key to ohio game…

McCarthy needs to step up after his production has slipped over the past two games following a hot start..

After No. 3 Michigan destroyed Indiana, Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh claimed that quarterback J.J. McCarthy is on track to be the best quarterback in program history. In two games since Harbaugh was suspended by the Big Ten amid an NCAA investigation into sign-stealing accusations within the program, however, McCarthy has struggled to keep pace.

In wins over No. 11 Penn State and Maryland, McCarthy has completed just 61.2% of his passe..

Granted, the competition has increased over the past two weeks. Maryland and Penn State represent the first time this season that Michigan has played consecutive teams ranked in the top 60 of the CBS Sports 133 rankings. But it’s still a major red flag as the Wolverines prepare to play their defining game of the 2023 season against No. 2 Ohio State.

McCarthy has stood apart as the top quarterback in the Big Ten across the season. Now, Michigan’s chances of winning The Game and earning a third consecutive trip to the College Football Playoff rests squarely on his shoulders.

Late struggles

The junior from La Grange Park, Illinois, was a borderline five-star passer who was hand-selected by Harbaugh as a potentially program-changing commit. He nudged out incumbent starter Cade McNamara to take over a Big Ten title squad in 2022, and led the Wolverines back to the College Football Playoff. As a second-year starter, Michigan expected a major leap from McCarthy.