JJ McCarthy On Track To Make Michigan Football History

Three games into the 2023 season, quarterback JJ McCarthy is on pace to break Michigan's all-time single-season touchdown passing record.

We're only three weeks into the season and there's still plenty of football to be played, but junior quarterback JJ McCarthy is currently on pace to break Michigan's all-time single-season touchdown passing record. 

After three games, McCarthy leads the Big Ten conference with seven touchdowns through the air. If he can keep pace through the remainder of the season, McCarthy would comfortably finish out the 2023 season as Michigan's all-time leader in single-season touchdown passes. The single-season record of 25 TDs is currently held by Elvis Grbac (1991) and Chad Henne (2004).

Photo: Christopher Breiler

Here's a look at the current single-season passing touchdown leaders all-time:

1. Elvis Grbac ('91), Chad Henne ('04): 25
2. John Navarre ('03): 24
3. Chad Henne ('05), Shea Patterson ('19): 23
4. Chad Henne ('06), Shea Patterson ('18), JJ McCarthy ('22): 22
5. Elvis Grbac ('90), John Navarre ('02), Devin Gardner ('13): 21

Of course, the ultimate goal for Michigan in 2023 isn't about personal records and accolades. The Wolverines have put together an incredible two-year stretch that includes back-to-back wins over Ohio State, back-to-back Big Ten championships, and two consecutive trips to the College Football Playoff. While that level of success is something that Michigan fans could only dream of just a few short years back, the bar has now been raised, and the expectations are as high as they've ever been. For Michigan, the ultimate goal is now a national championship. 

"That's my ultimate goal," McCarthy told ESPN over the summer. "I have a lot of goals, we have a lot of goals, but it's to bring a national championship to Ann Arbor. We're just so close."

"My 1A goal is bring a national championship to Ann Arbor; 1B is to never lose to [Ohio State]. That will mean a lot to me. From the guys that play scout team to the guys that are touching the ball every play, we have to be our best at all times. That's not always going to look pretty, but we just got to keep pushing, keep pushing and growing in every aspect, and we'll be where we want to be by Nov. 25."