J.J. McCarthy is the best player in college football

Michigan football quarterback J.J. McCarthy is improving his Heisman odds with a dominating performance against Michigan State. 

Going into the Michigan State game, you had a feeling that J.J. McCarthy was going to do something special.

For starters, you had the whole “sign-stealing” scandal which clearly has the Michigan football team pissed off, as it should. It’s hogwash, at least from what we knew so far and these players don’t deserve to have their accomplishments degraded.

Yet, they sure made it harder for pundits to say their achievements have anything to do with sign-stealing in the embarrassment of Michigan State.

J.J. McCarthy was throwing darts all over the field and frankly, making throws, as he has done all season, that I don’t know if any other college football quarterback can make.

In the first half against Michigan State, McCarthy looked like the best player in college football. He completed 20-of-26 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns. He added another touchdown pass in the third quarter for good measure.

https://twitter.com/UMichFootball/status/1715893263385727196

McCarthy went a perfect 6-for-6 on third downs. Michigan football converted all but one with him in the game. That’s elite quarterbacking and if it wasn’t for Donovan Edwards not getting set on the last play of the half, McCarthy would have had four first-half touchdown passes against Michigan’s in-state rival.

McCarthy’s numbers aren’t as eye-popping as Michael Penix Jr.’s. But he also has barely played in the fourth quarter this season and his second touchdown pass to Colston Loveland gave him 20 total for the season. He now has 18 passing and three rushing touchdowns for 21 after the fourth touchdown pass of the game, this one to A.J. Barner.

On third downs this season, McCarthy has thrown one incompletion. Every other pass has gone for a touchdown or a first down.

You can’t play quarterback better than that and right now, there isn’t a better player in college football than J.J. McCarthy.

McCarthy needs to continue that level of play against the likes of Penn State and Ohio State, but if he does, there shouldn’t even be a question about the Heisman Trophy winner.