Michigan impressively runs past Penn State, but to repeat as Big Ten champs, the Wolverines will need more from quarterback J.J. McCarthy
For the second straight season, Michigan hosted a Top 10 matchup in the Big House, and narrowly led a Big Ten rival at halftime.
And for the second straight autumn, the Wolverines got into a bit of a brouhaha in the tunnel during the break, igniting a big second half blowout win.
So after No. 5 Michigan housed No. 10 Penn State 41-17 on Saturday, the Wolverines cemented themselves as legitimate conference championship contenders for the second straight season, right?
Maybe.
Much like the lesson from The Princess Bride that you should never get into a land war in Asia, this much is certain: Don’t get into a war of words with the Wolverines at halftime.
As for their playoff chances? They passed their first test Saturday, but we’ll know for sure in six weeks when they play at No. 2 Ohio State.
Between now and then, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh should have one major objective in mind: What can he do to get the best — and most — out of quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
We know Michigan can run the ball. Like surgically so.
On the backs of a dominant ground game, the Wolverines easily could’ve dropped a 50-burger on the Nittany Lions if they didn’t settle for a trio of first-half field goals. (More on those in a minute).
They gashed the Nittany Lions for 418 rushing yards and four touchdowns, averaging 7.6 yards per carry. Blake Corum, a sleeper Heisman Trophy contender, had 166 yards and two scores. His backup, speedy sophomore Donovan Edwards, bested those numbers with 173 yards and two scores.
Coming into the afternoon, PSU had allowed just 399 rushing yards and three touchdowns in its first five games COMBINED. They were giving up just 2.96 yards per carry.
But the Nittany Lions got whipped up front, as Michigan’s offensive line completely controlled the line of scrimmage. UM’s ground game also clearly sucked the wind out of PSU, which was on the field for more than 42 minutes Saturday.
On back-to-back carries in the third quarter, Edwards ran for a 67-yard score and Corum sprinted 61 yards for a touchdown on the very next possession.
It was a winning strategy Saturday against PSU, but is it a pathway to victory over archival Ohio State?
It was in 2021, but Jim Harbaugh made the decision to bench last season’s starter Cade McNamara for J.J. McCarthy for one reason: Upside. Potential.
McCarthy is the more dynamic option. He has the better tools. A bigger arm. More athleticism.
And we saw flashes of some of those traits Saturday, especially his wheels. But while Michigan is 7-0 and certainly a Top 10 team, it’s clear Harbaugh still doesn’t quite trust his sophomore gunslinger, also.
Against Penn State, McCarthy was 17 of 24 for just 145 yards and one interception. He averaged only six yards per attempt. He had just a single completion over 15 yards. His pick-six was a freak play, but it’s noteworthy, that on all three of Michigan’s field goal drives in the first half — all which stalled inside the 10 — McCarthy attempted just two passes deep in the red zone, both to tailbacks.
The game was a laugher at the end, but Michigan was in a one-score game in the third quarter because it didn’t seem to trust its quarterback in the red zone. All of its explosive plays were via the ground game, too.
A year ago, the Wolverines rode a mauling offensive line and a fierce pass rush to a Big Ten championship. They have the OL and run game again this season, and their front-seven continues to improve.
They’re a really good football team.
But Ohio State is a behemoth this year. The Buckeyes are improved offensively and defensively, which is why McCarthy is positioned to be the ultimate X-factor Harbaugh believed him to be when he handed the former blue-chipper the job in September.
On the year, McCarthy has done a nice job protecting the football. He has nine touchdowns to just the one pick. But in Big Ten play, he’s averaging only 7.35 yards per attempt.
Michigan has an idle date next week before a four-week stretch that includes Michigan State, Rutgers, Nebraska and Illinois. Harbaugh’s sole focus should be to find ways to crank up the passing game and generate more explosive plays from the air.
McCarthy wasn’t bad on Saturday by any means. He made a couple wow throws and continues to extend plays with the legs. But he wasn’t a difference-maker, either.
And Michigan didn’t need him to be. We know now the Wolverines can whip Penn State without a big game from their quarterback.
They passed that test.
But here’s thinking that if the Blue & Maize want to win The Game for the second-straight season, they need J.J. McCarthy to to be the guy Harbaugh bet on.