PASADENA, Calif. — This was the death knell for Michigan State a year ago.
This could be the culmination of JJ McCarthy's accomplishments as a college quarterback, or it could completely overshadow them all.
This was McCarthy, a junior from LaGrange Park, Illinois, with the ball in his hands and 4:41 remaining in the Rose Bowl. On the other side of the field is Alabama.
Facing a 20-13 deficit, they need a touchdown to keep the game alive.
“I watched the offense,” left guard Trevor Keegan said. “I thought this was our last drive together.''
The game, which Michigan ultimately won 27-20 in overtime, was one of the best performances of all time, with McCarthy capping off a shaky first half with an interception that was quickly turned over on the first play from scrimmage. It wasn't a game where he showed his true potential.
The five-star quarterback played through an ankle injury in the second half of this season, but was underwhelming, throwing just one touchdown since Nov. 1.
In last year's Fiesta Bowl game against TCU, McCarthy tried to create a similar momentum and fell just short, watching as the Horned Frogs took a knee to end the game.
He won't do the same this time.
Instead, they reached 4th-and-2 with 3:19 left in regulation and found running back Blake Collum for a 27-yard gain in the flat.
Then, with 2:52 left in regulation, he would hold it himself for 16 minutes.
Then he threw a pass off the fingertips of a defensive lineman and into the leaping arms of Roman Wilson for another 29 points with 2:10 left in the fourth quarter.
“When he threw it in the least cocky way, I knew for sure he was going to hit that ball back,” Wilson said. “He threw it up. It was divine, brother.”
Two plays later, Wilson was in the end zone on McCarthy's third touchdown pass of the night.
The Rose Bowl was tied at 20.
The game went into overtime, where the Wolverines sealed the game with two runs by Blake Collum and a defensive stand.
McCarthy looked around like a kid going to Disneyland for the first time and lingered at the trophy handover podium like he never wanted to leave.
“Words can't describe it. I've been able to watch the other team celebrate for the last two years, so seeing corn and blue confetti on the field is just so different,” McCarthy said. “I can't do anything without this head coach.” [Jim Harbaugh]nothing without his teammates and nothing without his defense.
“Everything was so great. It's really, really great.”
University of Michigan heads to national title game.
Ann Arbor's eternal hero, JJ McCarthy.
