JJ McCarthy On Ohio State: 'We're Going To Do Anything And Everything To Win This Football Game'

The junior quarterback is currently 2-0 against the Buckeyes in his Michigan career, and he has every intention of making it 3-0 this weekend in the Big House.

JJ McCarthy is already a borderline Michigan Football legend, and he has the chance to solidify that legendary status on Saturday when the Buckeyes come to Ann Arbor. The junior quarterback is currently 2-0 against Ohio State in his Michigan career, and he has every intention of making it 3-0 this weekend in the Big House. 

Meeting with the media on Monday, McCarthy reflected on watching this rivalry as a kid - while also admitting he grew up a fan of Ohio State.

"I feel like growing up in the Midwest and being around Big Ten Football, it's always something that Thanksgiving weekend you always tuned into," McCarthy said. "It's always the game of the week. So just being a part of that as a youngin, growing up and being a fan of both teams, just always wanting to be a part of this.

"I grew up first being an Ohio State fan, I won't lie. But God had different plans for me and showed me the way, and I'm very blessed and appreciative to be here, that's for damn sure."

Photo: Christopher Breiler

While the game itself is already an intense rivalry, this year's edition of 'The Game' will carry some additional weight as head coach Jim Harbaugh will be serving the last of a three game suspension handed down by the Big Ten Conference. Saturday's game will mark the sixth game that Harbaugh has missed during the 2023 season due to suspension, and the Wolverines have certainly had to adjust without his presence on Saturdays.

"The whole process throughout the day of not having him there, it was different at first," McCarthy said. "Now with that experience and knowing how it works and how the coaches react to certain things, and how they go about coaching the game, it's going to be tremendous for us this Saturday because it's one of the bigger games."

As far as what the game plan is for McCarthy on Saturday, he says that he's ready and able to do whatever acting head coach Sherrone Moore asks of him. There's been some slight concern about an ongoing leg injury with McCarthy that could have an impact on what he's asked to do, but the junior QB says he feels great and that he's ready to do whatever is necessary to achieve victory.  

"Who knows what Coach Moore wants and expects out of me, but I would just predict that we're doing to do anything and everything to win this football game - whether it's me running the ball or just throwing the ball. I feel like things will arise just from scrambling and taking off. But no matter what he asks of me, I'm just going to go out there and execute."