'I come from Ohio State': How OSU had C.J. Stroud prepared for first NFL win

C.J. Stroud took a moment in his postgame press conference to shout out Ohio State.

After earning his first win as a Houston Texans quarterback, leading a 37-17 win Sunday, Stroud called out Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord and the defense after the Buckeyes' win against Notre Dame Saturday night.

"For me, I mean, I come from Ohio State," Stroud told reporters. "Go Bucks, man. They got the dub last night in a hard-fought win. Kyle McCord: my dog. All those boys on the defense, man."

But for Stroud, Ohio State is the reason behind his easy transition into the NFL.

"Coming from Ohio State, man, the pressure element is on every week," Stroud said. "Either you can't lose and if you're playing a less-than team, or a team that people think are less-than, you have to win by 70-plus points. The preparation I put in college, I almost kind of did as I have gone to the league. Every week, my routine is kind of the same. I've tweaked things here and there, but everything has kind of been like I did in college, the hard work that it takes. And it takes a little more in the league. It's that one little play, that one negative play that can ruin a whole game. And I'm learning. Those negative plays is a quarterback not getting ride of the ball or taking hits. Every week, I'm learning."

After the Texans' Week 3 win, Stroud set a record for the most pass attempts through the first three games of an NFL career without an interception with 121. Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon previously held the record with 103 during the 1984 season.

In three games, Stroud has completed 78 of his 121 pass attempts for 906 yards, and four touchdowns.

In 2021-22, Stroud was a two-time Heisman finalist for Ohio State, completing 69.3% of his pass attempts for 8,123 passing yards, 85 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Stroud was the second quarterback selected in the 2023 draft behind Alabama's Bryce Young, who went to the Carolina Panthers at No. 1.

After the Jaguars win, Stroud said he spoke with Ohio State coach Ryan Day, who "said some things to me that he used to always say to me when I was at Ohio State that just resonated."

"What prepared me in college is working in the league as well," Stroud said. "And this is just the beginning.

"The next step is doing it again."

Stroud and the Texans will host the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday at 1 p.m.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: C.J. Stroud says Ohio State prepared him for first NFL win