There are several reasons Michigan suffered a devastating College Football Playoff defeat to TCU.
Allowing two pick 6 touchdowns. A key fumble. Ineffectiveness in the scoring zone. Not establishing the run against a 3-man front. Getting caught up in a classic, wide-open Big 12-style game as a classic Big Ten squad.
It was a golden opportunity wasted. TCU is solid, yet chances are if Michigan reaches college football's version of the Final Four in the future the Wolverines will face a stronger squad.
This isn't meant to suggest Michigan's defense played well. It didn't. But the meltdown aspect of the loss was on the offense.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy got to the big moment and capitulated to it. He is prone to inconsistencies and isn't a particularly good red zone passer.
Of the CFP's final four QBs, McCarthy, at No. 98, was the only one not rated in the Top 50 by profootballfocus.com.
The question remains whether the Wolverines are good enough at the QB position to truly threaten for a national championship.
Michigan was better this season with McCarthy than with Cade McNamara the year before. McCarthy added the dimension of mobility. At times, his passing is electric. McCarthy avoided turnovers until the TCU game, but missing open throws was an issue, yet masked by the Wolverines' superior running attack.
With the game put in his hands more than ever, McCarthy negated his good plays with bad ones vs. TCU.
Under the traditional curve of college football, McCarthy undoubtedly should return as Michigan's starting QB.
However, the game has changed. Quarterbacks, sometimes immensely talented, enter the transfer portal in droves.
Devin Leary (North Carolina State), Sam Hartman (Wake Forest), Brennan Armstrong (Virginia) and Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina) are among the QBs possibly available. Michigan has already secured former Indiana QB Jack Tuttle, but he is more in the realm of a backup than someone who could push McCarthy.
Jim Harbaugh has been here before with the QB. It appeared Shea Patterson, who like McCarthy was a 5-star player at Florida's IMG Academy, was the answer. Ultimately he wasn't, primarily because of turnovers similar to those by McCarthy in the Fiesta Bowl.
There was no real option other than Joe Milton in 2020. Remember what a disaster that was for Harbaugh?
McCarthy should be the last to complain if there is such an in-team competition. McNamara was productive for the Wolverines in 2021, but was subjected to a genuine challenge by McCarthy. If anything, it helped the program to open up the position.
It seems necessary again based on the results of Fiesta Bowl.
Better quarterback play, Michigan wins that game and is in the championship game. Bottom line.
