JJ McCarthy opting not to wear eyeblack in Giants win over Texans likely linked to his hatred for Ohio State
JJ McCarthy led the New York Giants to an overtime win over the Houston Texans in his first start for the team, and played without the eye black he has usually worn throughout his career. The article links the change to his long-running dislike of Ohio State, suggesting it was a pointed gesture because Texans quarterback CJ Stroud played for the Buckeyes.
McCarthy went 3-0 against Ohio State while playing for Michigan, after saying he felt misled during his recruitment by coach Ryan Day; Ohio State later recruited quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Kyle McCord. Stroud lost twice to Michigan and remains winless against teams led by McCarthy, according to the article. The story presents the reason for McCarthy’s eye-black choice as an assumption rather than a confirmed explanation.
In short
- McCarthy won his first Giants start in overtime.
- He played without his usual eye black.
- The article suggests the choice referenced Ohio State and CJ Stroud.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The timing and context make the gesture a plausible expression of McCarthy’s rivalry with Ohio State: he had a history of opposing the Buckeyes, and Stroud was a former Buckeye on the other team. Athletes sometimes use small choices to signal competitive identity, so the interpretation may capture the personal edge behind McCarthy’s decision.
The case against
There is no confirmed explanation from McCarthy, so linking his choice to Ohio State risks treating a suggestive coincidence as evidence. He may simply have preferred playing without eye black that day, and the article’s rivalry framing may overstate the significance of an ordinary change in appearance.
Explained simply
JJ McCarthy is an American football quarterback who played for the University of Michigan before joining the New York Giants. Michigan and Ohio State are long-time rivals, and McCarthy’s Michigan teams beat Ohio State in all three of his match-ups with them.
Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud played for Ohio State, and he and McCarthy have faced teams led by the other. McCarthy has usually worn eye black during his career, but the article’s suggestion that he left it off as a slight towards Ohio State is speculation; he has not confirmed that explanation.