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The Week 7 NFL matchup between the Houston Texans and New York Giants may draw additional interest from fans with ties to Ohio State and Michigan. J.J. McCarthy, the former Michigan quarterback who guided the Wolverines to a national championship in 2023, is set to make his first start for New York (3-2-1). C.J. Stroud, a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist at Ohio State, aims to lead Houston (2-4) to a third consecutive win.
These two quarterbacks were under center for a top-five showdown between the Buckeyes and Wolverines on Nov. 26, 2022. Michigan emerged victorious, 45-23, but the game's implications reached far beyond the Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff. The following season, that contest became a focal point of the Connor Stalions in-person scouting and sign-stealing scandal.
Background to the 2022 Michigan-Ohio State Clash
No. 5 Michigan defeated No. 2 Ohio State 42-27 at Michigan Stadium on Nov. 27, 2021, ending the Wolverines' eight-game losing streak in The Game. Stroud completed 34 of 49 passes for 394 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. McCarthy was a role player behind starter Cade McNamara in that game.
That set the stage for the rematch at Ohio Stadium on Nov. 26, 2022. Both teams were 11-0 for the first time since the legendary No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown, and the Buckeyes were favored. Michigan star running back Blake Corum was dealing with a knee injury.
How the 2022 Game Unfolded
Ohio State, which had not lost at home to Michigan since 2000, led 20-17 at halftime. Stroud threw first-half touchdown passes to Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. However, McCarthy kept the Wolverines close with touchdown passes of 69 and 75 yards to receiver Cornelius Johnson. McCarthy found tight end Colston Loveland for a 46-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, and the Wolverines stunned the Buckeyes with 21 fourth-quarter points behind McCarthy's touchdown run and a pair of long touchdown runs by Donovan Edwards.
McCarthy waved goodbye to Ohio State fans, and Michigan players planted a flag at midfield. "It's huge," McCarthy said afterward. "We're not so much of a team that looks to the past and worries about it. We're about the present and changing the future. It was just one of those things where everything was aligned for us." Ohio State did not score a touchdown in the second half.
Statistical Comparison
Here is a look at the stats from the 2022 matchup between McCarthy and Stroud:
- J.J. McCarthy: 12 completions on 24 attempts (50%), 263 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions; 6 carries for 27 yards and 1 touchdown.
- C.J. Stroud: 31 completions on 48 attempts (64.6%), 349 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions; 2 carries for -3 yards.
Aftermath and the Sign-Stealing Scandal
Both teams lost in the College Football Playoff. No. 3 TCU beat No. 2 Michigan 51-45, and No. 1 Georgia beat No. 4 Ohio State 42-31 in the semifinals. The 2022 matchup between Ohio State and Michigan, however, became a point of controversy with Stalions, a Michigan staffer under coach Jim Harbaugh, who was embroiled in an in-person scouting and sign-stealing scandal. Stalions was on the sideline during that 2022 matchup against Ohio State, and there are several pictures of him standing next to Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter during the game.
McCarthy led No. 1 Michigan to a 30-24 victory against No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 25, 2023, and the Wolverines would win the national championship that season. Stroud finished 21-4 as a starter in college with 8,123 yards, 85 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He was 0-2 as a starter against Michigan. McCarthy was 27-1 as a starter at Michigan with 6,226 yards, 49 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He was 2-0 as a starter against Ohio State.
NFL Paths and Rematch
Houston selected Stroud with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft behind Alabama's Bryce Young, who went to the Panthers. Stroud is 30-22 in his fourth season. The Texans have made three straight AFC playoff appearances, and Stroud is 3-3 in those games. Stroud has 12,590 passing yards, 71 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. McCarthy was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was the fifth quarterback taken in that draft behind USC's Caleb Williams, LSU's Jayden Daniels, North Carolina's Drake Maye and Washington's Michael Penix Jr. McCarthy dealt with injuries in two seasons with Minnesota and made just 10 starts before being traded to the New York Giants this season. He has 1,875 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Originally reported by sportingnews.