Tom Brady Agrees That He’s Not the Greatest College QB in Michigan History

A bit of sports history repeated itself during the first College Football Playoff semifinal game of the new year.

No. 1 Michigan held off No. 4 Alabama, 27-20, in overtime at the Rose Bowl on Monday, sending the Wolverines to the national championship game. Twenty-four years earlier, the Wolverines kicked off the new millennium by also outlasting the Crimson Tide in a New Year’s Day bowl game, winning the Orange Bowl 35-34 thanks to a missed Alabama extra point.

Michigan’s quarterback in that game? Tom Brady.

Coach Jim Harbaugh was well aware of that fact after Michigan’s latest thrilling win over Alabama. And after a three-touchdown performance by his own QB, J.J. McCarthy, in the semifinal win, Harbaugh claimed the signal-caller stands above Brady in Michigan history.

“I’ve said it before, but this right here’s the greatest quarterback in University of Michigan college football history,” Harbaugh said after the game as an emotional McCarthy placed a hand on his coach’s shoulder.

“Got a long way to go to get to where Tom Brady eventually got to, which is the GOAT,” Harbaugh went on. “He’s lapped the field when it comes to that. But in a college career, there’s been nobody at Michigan better than J.J. I know we talk about the amalgamation of quarterbacks. He is that guy.”

Not exactly light praise. But Brady couldn’t help but agree.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL MVP replied to a SportsCenter Instagram post on Tuesday, which highlights Harbaugh’s quote.

“Go Blue!!! No doubt!!!” said Brady, who also celebrated Michigan’s win in a viral shirtless video.

McCarthy improved to 26-1 as Michigan’s starting quarterback with the New Year’s Day win. The only blemish on that record to date was last season’s 51-45 loss to TCU in the playoff semifinals. The signal-caller tossed two picks that were returned for scores in that game. And the 20-year-old’s start to his return playoff trip was nearly as rocky.

On Michigan’s first offensive snap of the Rose Bowl, McCarthy threw a pass that was at first ruled an Alabama interception, until replay determined the defensive back came in to pick off the ball from out of bounds. So the Wolverines retained the ball, and McCarthy put up a performance that apparently established his place, according to Harbaugh, above Brady, Chad Henne, Denard Robinson and the other great quarterbacks in program history.

McCarthy completed 17-of-27 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns, including a game-tying score with 1:34 remaining in regulation, in the overtime win.

After last season’s playoff loss, McCarthy stayed on the field to watch the Horned Frogs’ celebration, then claimed that the Wolverines would be back at the playoffs soon enough. He was right.

“He said we’re going to be back,” Harbaugh said. “What he told me was not only are we going to be back, we’re going to win. And there he did.”

Blake Corum, Michigan’s All-American running back, ran for a 17-yard touchdown on the second play of overtime to give the Wolverines a 7-point advantage—one that was too much for the Crimson Tide to overcome. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was stuffed on a fourth-and-goal run on the ensuing possession to end the game.

“The greatest [win] of all time,” McCarthy said. “Everything we’ve been through the last two years, how it ended the last two years—it’s absolutely amazing to be on the other side of it, I’ll say that.”

The victory snapped Michigan’s six-game bowl losing streak and also marks the first time in three College Football Playoff appearances that the Wolverines have advanced to the title game. Next up is a shot at the program’s first national championship since 1997. Brady was on that squad, which defeated Washington State in the Rose Bowl and split a title with Nebraska. And the future Hall of Fame QB would surely be thrilled to watch McCarthy lead his alma mater to another championship.

Top-ranked Michigan (14-0) faces No. 2 Washington (14-0) in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game next Monday.