C.J. Stroud’s resurgence kept rolling in London, and the NFL rewarded him for it.
The Houston Texans quarterback was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after steering Houston to a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Stroud was crisp from the start, finishing 24 of 34 for 312 yards and three touchdowns. It was the second time in his career that he’s gone over 300 passing yards and thrown three scores in the same game.
Stroud’s numbers this season have him right near the top of the league. Through Houston’s first stretch, he has completed 143 of 219 passes for 1,714 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception. That production puts him second in the NFL in passing yards and tied for the league lead in 20-plus-yard completions with 25.
For Stroud, this is a sharp turn from the uneven stretch that followed his fast start in the league. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year that fall, but he went through a sophomore slump in 2024 and was similarly limited in 2025. Now, he looks like the quarterback Houston expected all along.
The Texans have also strung together back-to-back wins after opening 0-4, and Stroud has been central to that turnaround. That matters even more because the team’s defense, which carried so much of the load a year ago, has not matched its 2025 standard. Houston ranked No. 1 in total defense and No. 2 in scoring defense last season, but this year sits No. 15 and No. 20 in those categories.
If the defense climbs back toward that level and Stroud keeps dealing like this, Houston has a chance to become one of the league’s most dangerous teams. That equation gets even more interesting with Harrison, Stroud’s former Ohio State teammate, now part of the offense.
In Other News...
Ohio States Bye Week Just Became A Crucial QB Decision
Ohio States bye week has turned into more than a breather. With Julian Sayin dealing with an injury, the Buckeyes are using the open date to sort through their options at quarterback, and that means taking a hard look at freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair as possible replacements if the position remains in flux.
Across the rivalry, Michigan has already made a change of its own, benching Bryce Underwood and moving freshman Tommy Carr into the starting role for the upcoming game against Indiana. The timing only adds to the pressure around Columbus, where the Buckeyes are watching not just their own depth chart but a busy Week 8 slate that could ripple through conference standings and shape the bigger picture in the Big Ten race. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Gave Fans A Classic TBDBITL Moment At The Woody
The Ohio State Marching Band brought a little extra buzz to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center this week, and the timing fit the mood around the program. With the Buckeyes in their bye week, coach Ryan Day shifted the visit there to keep the routine steady during rivalry week, while Jeremiah Smith, Jamir Perez and Earl Little Jr. were among the players who got a turn conducting and performing with the band.
It was the kind of classic TBDBITL moment that reminds everyone how tightly woven the band and football program are in Columbus. The visit also followed a recent high-profile stop for the band at a Twenty One Pilots concert at Ohio Stadium, another sign that Ohio States marching tradition keeps finding fresh ways to show up in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Made A Loud Statement About Its National Pull
Week 7 offered another reminder that Ohio State still sits near the center of the college football TV universe. The Buckeyes matchup with Indiana on FOX topped the national viewership charts, a strong showing that underscores how much attention follows Ohio State whenever it is in a marquee slot, especially against a ranked Big Ten opponent.
The rest of the top ten only reinforced how crowded the sports biggest stages can get, with notable games from the Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 all drawing major audiences. Alabama-Tennessee led the SECs weekend numbers, but Ohio States latest television footprint is the kind of data point that speaks to more than one Saturday - it speaks to the programs reach every time it takes the field. [Read more 🡒]