J.J. McCarthy saw a chance to expose Ohio State’s defense on Michigan’s controversial touchdown pass: Buckeye Breakfast

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Depending on if you consider yourself a Michigan or Ohio State will decide whether you think J.J. McCarthy’s only touchdown pass should’ve stood as such or been considered an interception.

Buckeye fans will be adamant that Roman Wilson didn’t have full possession of the ball on the 22-yard connection that extended UM’s lead to 14-3 and Denzel Burke should’ve been credited with a pick. Wolverines fans will always feel like the right call was made.

McCarthy isn’t interested in joining that conversation. But he did take the time to break down the play and explain why he chose to throw a pass that could’ve easily been picked off regardless had he not had the right touch, timing and accuracy on it. It’s because he identified a decision OSU’s defense made to put a freshman on the field in its secondary.

“I was doing film study all week on No. 25,” McCarthy said. “Whenever he turns his head he doesn’t look at the quarterback. Once I saw him put eyes on Roman, I knew he was only covering the width of his shoulders and I just let it rip.”

The No. 25 McCarhty is referring to is Malik Hartford, a freshman safety that Ohio State is extremely high on and has flashed numerous times since arriving in January . There’s good reason to have expectations that he’ll compete for a starting job in 2024.

But in 2023, he became the victim of a common practice in college football. When teams see freshmen defensive backs, it’s wise to go at them as the perceived weak link — given their inexperience — immediately. Hartford isn’t the first freshman to deal with this and won’t be the last. Penn State and Rutgers tried that approach with cornerback Jermaine Mathews earlier this year. Burke went through it in 2021 when he was a freshman starting.

It’s a normal practice by other teams because the best-case scenario is that a young player doesn’t live up to the moment and an explosive play comes from it. McCarthy took that chance on Saturday, resulting in seven points on the only snap Hartford played all game.

“I’m a risk-taker,” McCarthy said. “It’s a lot of situations in football where if you miss that opportunity to take that chance you won’t ever get it back. I always air on the side of doing all the little things right throughout the weeks so when it does turn out to be those 50-50 balls or those risky chances that I take I’m putting in the work through the week. Just making sure they end out on our side.”

Hoops wins a championship

While the football team was busy once again ending its regular season in disappointment, the basketball team was winning a championship.

The 5-1 Buckeyes took home the Emerald Coast Classic championship over the weekend thanks to wins over, Western Michigan, Alabama and Santa Clara. Starting backcourt Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle Jr. took home All-Tournament honors with Thornton also winning MVP. Watch the highlights from the championship run below:

“This is a very dangerous team.”

Highlights from our 30 point win in the Emerald Coast Classic championship! pic.twitter.com/NrBNv9xdLi

— Ohio State Hoops November 28, 2023

Key dates

Big Ten Championship game: 4 days, Dec. 2

Winter transfer portal opens: 6 days, Dec. 4

Early signing period starts: 22 days, Dec. 20-22

College Football Playoff National Championship: 44 days, Jan. 8, 2024

NFL Draft underclassmen entry deadline: 48 days, Jan. 15, 2024

Regular signing period starts: 72 days, Feb. 7-April 1, 2024

NFL Scouting Combine: 99 days, Feb. 27-March 4, 2024