Best college football quarterback in every Power 5 conference for 2023
By John Buhler
Big Ten: Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy can be first Wolverine QB to win a playoff game
Had C.J. Stroud decided to stay in school for one more year because Ohio State could not beat Michigan for the life of them when he was quarterbacking the Buckeyes, he would be No. 1 with a bullet on this list. Stroud is not for everyone at the NFL level, but you can safely say I’m a fan of his. After all, he nearly beat my beloved Georgia Bulldogs in the national semifinals in Atlanta.
But Stroud has gone pro, and it is J.J. McCarthy’s turn to run the show. The former five-star recruit will be entering his second full season as the Michigan starter. Although he could be the third quarterback taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy feels like a college passer who needs to bank some more starts before foregoing his final year of eligibility. There is a lot to like with his game.
It is the combination of run and throw, which makes him such a compelling college star. He got better as the season progressed after fully taking over for Cade McNamara in September. Although the TCU loss was a huge punch in the guts, I am thoroughly excited to see how he responds to adversity entering his true junior season. McCarthy should be a fascinating watch.
If a starting quarterback in the Big Ten is getting to the Heisman ceremony, bank on McCarthy.