Kirk Herbstreit talks Michigan Football QBs, motivation of Buckeyes

ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit offered some thoughts on Michigan football’s QB battle, as well as the motivation level of the Buckeyes for 2022. 

Michigan football’s win over Ohio State last season sent shockwaves through the college football world. It was something no one expected at the start of the 2021 season.

After all, Ryan Day made his famous comment about the Buckeyes hanging 100 on Michigan the next time they met the Wolverines. That didn’t happen and Michigan’s 42-27 victory propelled the Wolverines to the Big Ten championship.

Now the pressure is on Day to get things right. He said that an 11-2 season and a Rose Bowl win is a disappointment at Ohio State this offseason and really, for the Buckeyes, assuming they win all of their other games, it’s about a one-game season — beating Michigan.

I’ve said I believe Michigan football will be good enough to make that game for the Big Ten East title as it has been a few times during the Harbaugh era (2016, 2018, 2021) and that will only ramp up the pressure.

But Kirk Herbstreit, the former OSU QB, and ESPN analyst said he sees the Buckeyes doing something similar to what they did after losing to Clemson in the playoff.

"“My sense is that Ryan Day is a master motivator,” Herbstreit said in his annual Herbie Awards. “Remember when they lost to Clemson at the end of the ’19 season and they felt they could’ve and should’ve won? They were on a mission, even through COVID, to get to Clemson, and they end up playing them and dominating that game. I kind of sense the same thing with Michigan, and the way they lost up in Ann Arbor has really fueled this team in the offseason So, they get Michigan at home. I think Michigan’s going to have a great year, but coming to Columbus will be tough. I think Ohio State will win the East.”"

Ohio State is the favorite for a reason and while I do think this Michigan football team is going to be really good, the Wolverines haven’t won in Columbus since 2000 and I need to see before I’ll believe it, especially since the Buckeyes are loaded.

But Harbaugh and company want to prove last season wasn’t a fluke. Both programs are extremely motivated and should be very good, meaning we should have another epic clash in store in November.

Herbie talks Michigan QB situation

Herbstreit also talked about the QB battle and said in his opinion, the Wolverines should find ways to get J.J. McCarthy on the field but stick with Cade McNamara as the starter.

"“I do think he’s an extension of Jim Harbaugh,” Herbstreit said. “He does a good job of reading the defense and getting them into the right play. To me, a quarterback can be effective in college — it’s not just always about being an NFL guy.  It’s about just trying to win, move the ball, move the sticks down the field, get the ball in the end zone. Nobody epitomizes that more than Cade McNamara. Just take what the defense gives you. It’s not always flashy, but it’s incredibly effective.”"

We have talked about the Michigan football QB competition extensively. But right now, this does feel like it’s Cade McNamara’s team.

McCarthy is going to play this season. He might even start one of these non-conference games. The point is, that his role will increase and it needs to.

But if McNamara is able to hold him off, that’s a good sign and while he does have a reputation for playing mistake-free football (an underrated asset in a QB), Cade will continue to prove people wrong that doubt his talent.

And regardless of who is under center — McNamara or McCarthy — the fortunes for the 2022 Wolverines seem extremely bright. Even if Herbie is picking Ohio State to win the East.