Top 3 items on Christmas wishlist for Michigan football

2. J.J. McCarthy runs it back

Whether Jim Harbaugh returns or not, another big question faces Michigan football going into the offseason and that's the status of starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

McCarthy didn't have a great statistical run down the stretch, but he made some elite throws in that Ohio State game. He also threw just one interception down the stretch, and four all season. McCarthy is a first-round pick in my book -- I've been pounding the table on that since this summer.

McCarthy plays in a pro-style offense that's run heavy, but that's not a reflection of his arm talent. He has as much as any in the 2024 draft class. He's also 25-1 as a starter and if he leads Michigan football to a national title, I don't see him coming back.

However, McCarthy is a different cat. He's talked about wanting to get a Michigan degree and be a Michigan captain. There's also a chance he could be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft if he returns next season, but much of that depends on Harbaugh and the next two games, at least from my perspective.