The Texans didn’t make people wait long for the news to become official. After twice brushing off questions about a deal, DeMeco Ryans finally confirmed Houston had traded for Marvin Harrison Jr. as he wrapped up his postgame news conference.
“You guys wanna know, huh?” Ryans said, smiling.
“Yes, we traded for Marvin Harrison. See ya.”
For C.J. Stroud, the move brings back a familiar face. Stroud and Harrison were teammates at Ohio State, where Harrison barely saw the field as a freshman before breaking out in 2022 with 77 catches for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns with Stroud throwing him the ball.
After Houston’s 26-3 win over the Titans, Stroud was already looking ahead to the reunion.
“I think he brings a dynamic playmaker, somebody who runs great routes and can catch pretty much any ball,” Stroud said after the Texans’ 26-3 win over the Titans. “I’m super excited to get to work with him.
I loved him in college. He’s probably the hardest worker I’ve ever been around in my life, and then there’s who he is off the field.
He’s a great dude, a quiet guy, but you definitely feel his presence.
“I’m excited to get him here, get him learning and get him around the other guys. I think it’s perfect for him. Fresh starts are good, so I’m excited to have him with us.”
Harrison was inactive for the Cardinals on Sunday with the deal hanging over the game. He had five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown this season, and the 2024 first-round pick now has 108 receptions for 1,578 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career.
In Other News...
Bearcats Gave Fans Plenty To Love And One Clear Concern
The Bearcats had plenty to like in their exhibition win over Ohio State at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason, especially the way they controlled the glass and turned defense into offense. Cincinnati outrebounded the Buckeyes 45-35 and forced nine steals, while Tylen Riley and Tyler Tejada supplied the scoring punch that kept the home side within striking distance and then helped it seize control.
Jerrod Calhoun still had one clear area that left him wanting more: the free-throw line. Even with the comeback win in hand, the Bearcats' coach made it clear afterward that the fouling situation was not where he wanted it, a reminder that exhibition success can still come with a warning label as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Cincinnati's MJ Collins Twist Could Reshape The Bearcats' 2026-27 Plans
Ohios latest move could end up mattering in a big way for the Bearcats, and it arrives at a time when roster planning already feels more delicate than usual. Governor Mike DeWine issued an executive order saying student-athletes from the Class of 2022 at Ohio colleges and universities can participate in intercollegiate athletics during the 2026-27 academic year, even if NCAA eligibility rules say otherwise. For Cincinnati, that puts MJ Collins back into the conversation as the program looks ahead, especially after his eligibility status has bounced around over the past year.
The order directs Ohio institutions to let those athletes compete, which gives the Bearcats a clear state-level path to keep Collins available if the directive holds up. What still lingers is the practical question of whether the order will stand up to further challenge, leaving Cincinnati with a notable piece of future planning and a little less certainty than the new language might suggest. [Read more 🡒]
Bearcats Head To West Virginia With Plenty To Prove
Cincinnati was back on the practice field this week with Saturdays rivalry trip to West Virginia looming, and the Bearcats spent part of the lead-up trying to reset after their most recent setback. Head coach Scott Satterfield and quarterback JC French IV both addressed how the team has responded and where the focus needs to be heading into a noon ET kickoff on TNT.
For a Bearcats team trying to steady itself in Big 12 play, the trip carries more than the usual road-game edge. West Virginia has long been a meaningful measuring stick in this part of the schedule, and Cincinnati is treating it like the kind of chance that can say plenty about how far this group has come, and how much more it still has to prove. [Read more 🡒]