J.J. McCarthy proved that once a Wolverine, forever a Wolverine. The quarterback’s move to a new home in Minnesota Vikings has not stopped McCarthy from rooting for his college team. And what better way to flaunt his former team’s pride than taking a shot at opponent Ohio State Buckeyes?

McCarthy’s latest Instagram story shows a timeline through which the Wolverines have dominated the Buckeyes. After the ex-Wolverine’s snubbing post now, the question prevails whether, after their most grueling loss to the Wolverines in recent memory, can Ryan Day & Co. recover in 2024.

From college to the NFL, McCarthy’s Michigan pride shines through 

McCarthy has boarded the NFL ship but still cannot get over the Wolverines. In his latest IG story, the quarterback has reshared a post from The Michigan Page that shows a picture featuring McCarthy while the caption says “1650 DAYS SINCE OHIO STATE HAS BEATEN MICHIGAN.” It seems that even after being drafted by the Vikings, the quarterback still can’t resist keeping tabs on his former team’s archrivals. 

The last time that luck favored Ryan Day’s Buckeyes was November 30, 2019, when Ohio State defeated Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan 56-27. Since then, Ohio State got three chances on December 12, 2020, November 27, 2021, and November 26, 2023. The matchups, however, offered them no hope. While in 2020, there was no contest due to COVID-19, in 2021, Michigan won over Ohio State 42-27, and 2022 brought in the same results with a slight change in score, 45-23. The 2023 matchup against Day’s squad has been etched in McCarthy’s memory for a reason. 

McCarthy’s pivotal play against Ohio State

For the 2023 season, McCarthy had held the key to the Wolverines extending their win streak over the Buckeyes. As it was his last lap in college football, the QB left no stone unturned to imprint his name in the Wolverines’ success records. 

The attitude with which McCarthy took to the field against Ohio State, it’s hard for us to believe that in his childhood the QB rooted for Ohio State. “I grew up first being an Ohio State fan, I won’t lie. But God had different plans for me and showed me the way, and I’m very blessed and appreciative to be here, that’s for d*mn sure,” confessed McCarthy in an interview. Even though 2023 marked the Buckeyes’ third consecutive loss to Michigan ending their Ohio State’s College Football Playoff aspirations, on the latest edition of The No. 1 College Football Show with RJ Young, host RJ Young expects Day and company to bounce back. 

Players like Luke Montgomery and Jeremiah Smith, both of whom seem to have risen to – or near – the top of the depth chart at their position(s). In case they are able to overturn the narrative and end the countdown by bringing victory for Ohio State, will McCarthy go back to rooting his favorite team from childhood?