If you only looked at the box score of the 2024 Rose Bowl, you’d see a decent stat line. 17 for 27. 221 yards. Three touchdowns. It looks clean, right? It looks like a efficient day at the office for a guy who eventually became a top-10 NFL draft pick.
But honestly, that’s not what happened. Not really.
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The jj mccarthy rose bowl performance was actually a chaotic, heart-stopping roller coaster that nearly ended before it even started. Most people forget that on the very first play from scrimmage, McCarthy threw what looked like a disastrous interception to Alabama’s Caleb Downs. Michigan fans' hearts collectively stopped. If that pick stands, the narrative of his entire career changes. But Downs was out of bounds by a blade of grass.
Crisis averted. Sorta.
The Grit Behind the Glory
The game was a brutal, physical chess match. Alabama’s defense was no joke, and they were hitting hard. Early on, McCarthy was visibly rattled. He was sailing passes over open receivers. He looked like the pressure of the stage—the "Granddaddy of Them All"—might be getting to him.
Then came the "trick play" that shouldn't have worked.
In the second quarter, Donovan Edwards threw a lateral back to McCarthy. It was a terrible ball—high and behind him. McCarthy had to leap, snag it with one hand like a shortstop, and then immediately get hit by a charging Dallas Turner. Somehow, while falling backward, he flicked a 20-yard completion to Roman Wilson. It was backyard football at its finest. It was the moment he settled in.
Breaking Down the Numbers (The Real Ones)
If we’re being real, the stats don't capture the weight of the "clutch" factor.
- Final Drive: Down 20-13 with less than 5 minutes left.
- The 4th & 2: McCarthy hits Blake Corum for 27 yards to keep the season alive.
- The Game-Tyer: A 4-yard strike to Roman Wilson with 1:34 left.
- The Sacks: Michigan’s defense was the star (6 sacks on Milroe), but McCarthy’s ability to take only one sack against that Bama front was huge.
He finished with a QBR of 91.0. That’s elite, especially against a Nick Saban-coached defense in a playoff semifinal.
Why Jim Harbaugh Called Him the GOAT
After the win, Jim Harbaugh didn't hold back. He called McCarthy the greatest quarterback in Michigan history. Now, look, Tom Brady played at Michigan. Denard Robinson was a human highlight reel. Rick Leach was a legend.
So, was Harbaugh just caught up in the emotion?
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Maybe a little. But McCarthy's record was 27-1 as a starter. He didn't have the gaudy 4,000-yard seasons because Michigan’s "smashmouth" identity didn't require it. In the jj mccarthy rose bowl game, he proved he could be the engine when the run game was getting stuffed. He was the one who made the plays in the "death zone" of the fourth quarter.
The TCU Ghost is Finally Gone
You have to remember where he was a year prior. The 2023 Fiesta Bowl against TCU was a nightmare. Two pick-sixes. He felt like he let the whole state of Michigan down.
Coming into Pasadena, the narrative was: Can he actually win the big one? He spent the entire year meditating, doing yoga under the goalposts, and basically becoming a zen master of the pocket. When Alabama took the lead in the second half—marking the first time Michigan trailed in a second half all season—the old JJ might have panicked. The Rose Bowl JJ just went to work.
What This Means for His Legacy
The jj mccarthy rose bowl win wasn't just a victory; it was a bridge. It bridged the gap between being a "game manager" and a "franchise savior." It’s the reason the Minnesota Vikings traded up to get him.
He didn't just win a game; he broke a curse. Michigan hadn't won a bowl game since 2016. They hadn't won a Rose Bowl since the 1997 national championship season.
Key Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch
If you're going back to watch the highlights, pay attention to these three things:
- The Footwork: Even when the pocket was collapsing, he stayed "connected" to the ground.
- The Scramble: That 16-yard run on the final drive of regulation was arguably his most important play of the night.
- The Eyes: Watch how he manipulates the Bama safeties on the Tyler Morris touchdown. Pure veteran stuff.
To truly understand the jj mccarthy rose bowl impact, you have to look past the completion percentage. You have to look at the guy who refused to let a three-year mission end in another "what if." He delivered when the lights were brightest and the stakes were "win or go home."
Your Next Steps
If you're a fan or a scout looking to understand why McCarthy's stock exploded after this game, start by analyzing the fourth-quarter coaches' film. Look at the spacing on the 4th & 2 play—it’s a masterclass in reading a defensive leverage. You should also compare his "off-platform" throws from this game to his early 2022 tape; the difference in core strength and ball velocity is night and day.