One of college football’s biggest offseason storylines was the Michigan Wolverines’ quarterback battle between incumbent starter Cade McNamara and young star J.J. McCarthy. And now, just a week before Michigan opens its 2022 season against Colorado State, head coach Jim Harbaugh has finally made his starting quarterback announcement – kind of.
On Friday, Michigan announces that both quarterbacks as the team’s starters, with McNamara announced as the starter in the season-opener against Colorado State and McCarthy starting the team’s second game against Hawaii the following week. The Wolverines will then make their final decision on their starting quarterback heading into their third game of the season.
QB Update pic.twitter.com/hwDJQmETQK
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) August 27, 2022
“Both quarterbacks have played great – done everything they could have and, in every way, to win the starting job,” Harbaugh said in a statement. “Coming out of camp, I just feel like we have two quarterbacks, Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy, that we feel very confident that we can win a championship with either of those two behind center.”
It’s certainly an unconventional move from Harbaugh, and the college football world certainly had plenty to say about it.
Might I suggest a red zone quarterback situation https://t.co/NkQ3z6qHxZ
— Bill Landis (@BillLandis25) August 27, 2022
A proven formula for success https://t.co/K2IB35fbDX
— lukezim (@lukezim) August 27, 2022
“In a break with convention, the
editorial board has chosen to
endorse two separate Democratic
candidates for president.” https://t.co/IjBNsdFGHy— Nu Wexler (@wexler) August 27, 2022
Grow a pair and make a decision https://t.co/cDPghKaJsy
— Katie Stats (@kpondiscio) August 27, 2022
Jim Harbaugh loves to go against the grain.
He has announced two starting quarterbacks. https://t.co/oEM25L9HbX
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) August 27, 2022
Harbaugh out here treating my #CSURams like a scrimmage. https://t.co/GWfl3fCIkm
— Matt Clapp (@Matt2Clapp) August 27, 2022
And so it begins…I actually like what Harbaugh did here. Doesn’t alienate either one , they both get a chance to start and there will be way more clarity after game two https://t.co/zicqEWJm4v
— Dan Leach (@DanLeach971) August 27, 2022
Opening the announcement that you haven't made a decision with "We have made a decision" is so unbelievably good. We are witnessing an all-timer here. https://t.co/BPUo6NgY8S
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) August 27, 2022
It’s certainly a bold strategy from Michigan, and now the college football world waits to see how it is going to turn out.