Jim Harbaugh has said it before, and said it again after J.J. McCarthy threw three touchdowns and was named Offensive MVP of the Rose Bowl in Michigan's 27-20 win over Alabama that sent the Wolverines to the national championship.
"Right here," said Harbaugh, sitting next to McCarthy after the game, "this is the greatest quarterback in University of Michigan college football history. Got a long way to go to get to where Tom Brady eventually got to, which is the GOAT. He’s lapped the field when it’s come to that. But in a college career, there's been nobody at Michigan better than J.J."
Brady was quick to echo the sentiment. When Harbaugh's comments made the rounds on social media the next day, Brady commented on one post, "Go Blue!!! No doubt!!!"
McCarthy's numbers are hard to dispute. He has a record of 26-1 since taking over as Michigan's starter last season, with 44 touchdowns to nine picks and another seven touchdowns on the ground. As former Heisman-winning QB Robert Griffin III pointed out this week, "McCarthy is all about playing winning football."
Brady, for comparison, went 20-5 in his two seasons as Michigan's starting quarterback, with 30 touchdowns to 16 picks and wins over Arkansas in the Citrus Bowl and, fittingly, Alabama in overtime of the Orange Bowl.