J.J. McCarthy makes NFL history in first start as Ohio State fans eat crow again

Rival fans of Michigan football have a weird obsession with J.J. McCarthy. Even though he torched Ohio State and Michigan State as a starting quarterback with a 4-0 record that included a 49-point win in Spartan Stadium, along with a 22-point win in the Shoe over the Buckeyes.

Despite the fact that McCarthy threw four touchdown passes in the 49-0 win in East Lansing, or accounted for four touchdowns as a sophomore, in the 45-23 over Ohio State in 2022, these fans love to call McCarthy a "handoff specialist."

They also love to joke about McCarthy was only successful with Michgan football because of the sign-stealing scandal. Yet, anyone with a brain, or that actually knows about football, knows that isn't true.

J.J. McCarthy makes rival fans look foolish again

Ohio State fans were critical of McCarthy after a slow start on Monday. But, they forgot that NFL games, like in college football, are four quarters, and in the fourth quarter, McCarthy threw two touchdown passes and ran for another, becoming the first player in NFL history to account for three fourth-quarter touchdowns in his NFL debut.

Maybe the greatest college quarterback in Michigan football history, McCarthy also became the first NFL QB since Cam Newton to have two touchdown passes and a touchdown run in his NFL debut.

There's a reason the Vikings drafted McCarthy 10th overall, and passed on the chance to keep Sam Darnold or sign Aaron Rodgers. After the win, Justin Jefferson, who caught the first touchdown pass from McCarthy, said the Vikings "knew" he had that dog in him.

"I already knew what J.J. was about. Coming from Michigan, being a national champion, we knew he had that dog in him," Jefferson said via Will Ragatz.

Maybe, just maybe, the Ohio State fans and their Michigan State brethren can finally admit what anyone with two eyes can see: J.J. McCarthy is a star.