MADISON, WI – OCTOBER 2: Cade McNamara #12 of the Michigan Wolverines stands under center against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 2, 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
Despite leading Michigan to its first win over Ohio State in a decade and its first 12-win season since 1997, Wolverines quarterback Cade McNamara is not a lock to keep his starting job this season, or even start in week 1.
McNamara is currently competing with sophomore JJ McCarthy for the starting job. But Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh isn’t ready to name a starter.
Speaking to the media Wednesday, Harbaugh admitted he’s not sure he’s ready to name a winner in the quarterback competition come the opener against Colorado State.
“It is possible that there will be a starter in the first game. It might come into the season,” Harbaugh said.
Michigan fans have taken that to mean McCarthy is taking the lead in the quarterback battle. Others believe it could be a case of Harbaugh trying to keep McCarthy from entering the transfer window:
JJ McCarthy was a five-star prospect coming out of high school in 2021. He has legitimate NFL potential and the Wolverines had to fight tooth and nail to land him.
But Cade McNamara was able to do what no other Michigan quarterback had done in nearly 20 years: win the Big Ten title.
It’s the classic battle of achievement versus potential, and no one knows for sure who’s coming out on top yet.
Who will win the Michigan quarterback battle?