J.J. McCarthy overcame a season-ending meniscus tear during the 2024 preseason to come back to the Minnesota Vikings, struggle through training camp in Kevin O'Connell's offense, but make it all worth it during his NFL regular season debut against the Chicago Bears on Monday night in a 27-24 win at Soldier Field.
McCarthy did all that just for Michigan Wolverines On SI's Jerred Johnson to insert the Ohio State Buckeyes into the headline and make spiting OSU the main story.
"After being selected 10th overall by the Vikings, the Buckeye trolls came out in full force. Claiming that JJ was a handoff artist who would get exposed in the league. After suffering a knee injury that cost him his rookie season, McCarthy made his debut on Monday Night Football for the start of the 2025 season. He started shaky, and those same Buckeye trolls came out," Johnson wrote.
"However, JJ shook off the rust and led his Vikings to a come-from-behind victory, setting an NFL record along the way. McCarthy is the first quarterback in NFL history to account for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in the fourth quarter of his NFL debut. That record and the way JJ led his team back to victory silenced the trolls once again."
The dedication to the rivalry is admirable. Johnson is not short on hate for the scarlet and gray. Buckeye fans can appreciate that. Just imagine that in the inverse. You can't say you wouldn't be fired up about it.
Actually, because of Jeremiah Smith, you don't even have to. Smith became an even more popular figure for the maize and blue hate just this past offseason.
Ultimately, the hate could be healthy, even for the ones being hated. OSU is on more people's minds now because of seeing McCarthy succeed in the NFL the same week the Wolverines learned Bryce Underwood can't carry an offense by himself and knock off a ranked non-conference opponent on the road.
The story should be solely McCarthy's resilience, but the defending champion Buckeyes have been haunting TTUN since January.
I suppose it makes some sense, since there are two former Ohio State players on the Vikings, and only one former Wolverine.