In the world of college football, a lot can change in a year.
The Michigan Wolverines are national champions.
On Monday night, the Wolverines leaned on a strong defensive performance and two outstanding running backs to take down the Washington Huskies and claim their first title in more than two decades.
For Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the victory was a dream come true, and the culmination of a year of hard work that began after the Wolverines came so close yet so far in 2022.
In last year’s playoff, McCarthy and the Wolverines came up just short against TCU, falling 51–45 in the Fiesta Bowl that sent Michigan home and the Horned Frogs to the national title game.
One of the iconic shots from that game was McCarthy standing on the field as the confetti fell in celebration of TCU’s victory.
Last season, #Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy made sure to watch #TCU celebrate their CFP win in the Fiesta Bowl over Michigan. Tonight, he became a national champion. pic.twitter.com/juZxWHax0o
— Newy Scruggs (@newyscruggs) January 9, 2024
As McCarthy told reporters after Michigan’s victory on Monday night, that loss helped propel the Wolverines to their perfect 15–0 season in 2023.
“We came a long way. In order to accomplish things like this, you’ve got to go to those dark places where everything’s not great,” McCarthy told reporters. “The response, the urgency right after that last game last year, it was different. I knew it. Just from being on the podium last year and saying that we’ll be back. I knew the guys that were coming back and I had this feeling that we were going to be where we are right now.”
With the win over Washington, McCarthy and the Wolverines capped off a journey a year in the making.
J.J. McCarthy watched on as Michigan fell short in the CFP last season...
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 9, 2024
What a difference a year makes ???? pic.twitter.com/QqGssr91tc
McCarthy is expected to declare for the NFL Draft now that Michigan’s run to the title has concluded. If he does, he will finish his college career 27–1 as a starter, with that one loss helping inspire the run that ended with a title.
What a difference a year can make.
