CJ Stroud reveals how Michigan loss impacted his offseason

Ohio State‘s loss to rival Michigan last year was obviously a sore moment for the Buckeyes as it not only was the first Michigan win in the matchup since 2011, but kept them out of the Big 10 championship game for the first time since 2016. At Big 10 media day, quarterback CJ Stroud reflected on last season’s loss to the Wolverines and how it impacted his offseason.

“Something like that definitely does stick in your mind, but you’ve got to be able to move on and just learn from it. I feel like every failure that you don’t learn from is an L, but every failure that you do learn from is a W, so I definitely just learn from it,” Stroud said.

Stroud finished that game with nearly 400 yards passing and a pair touchdowns, but talked about what he could improve on moving forward.

“Learn how to game manage better from that game, when to take the shot, when not to, moving in the pocket, there’s a lot of different things you can take from that game and I think of it more as a positive honestly,” Stroud said. “I know it sounds weird to say, but I’m living my dream you know what I mean? Even though I wanted to win so bad and I’ll have another opportunity to hopefully by the glory of God, so yeah just definitely working towards that in the offseason and it’s always in the back of my mind.”

Stroud and the Buckeyes are hoping to get redemption on the Wolverines in their annual matchup to end the season this year in Columbus, in a game that always has huge implications that will likely have even higher stakes yet again due to both teams being the two favorites contenders to come out of the Big 10 east.

CJ Stroud provides thoughts on USC, UCLA joining Big Ten

Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud heads into his third, and most likely final, season with the Buckeyes as he’s one of the top NFL prospects for the 2023 draft. Even if Stroud did stay, he would not be there for when USC and UCLA joins the Big 10 conference in 2024. But at Big 10 media day, the California native was asked about his thoughts on the two west coast schools joining the conference soon. 

“I think it’s cool, I definitely think that it’s a unique situation. I wish that I would’ve been able to play at the Coliseum, that has always been a goal of mine to play in the Coli, of course I got to play in the Rose Bowl which is amazing, but I definitely wanted to play USC but it’s okay,” Stroud said. 

Stroud attended Rancho Cucamonga high school in California, where he was ranked the number three quarterback in the country in his class according to On3 Consensusand threw for 3,878 yards and 47 touchdowns his senior year. And although Stroud passed on his offers to USC and UCLA to play at Ohio State, he understand the recruiting implications this conference change will have. 

“But I definitely think it’s a good opportunity not only just for the Big Ten but also for recruits, I know even me being a California kid it was hard for me to leave home, but I wanted to play in the Big Ten and play against other competition so this gives them that opportunity,” Stroud said. “So same thing with the Big 10 kids, the midwest kids, if they want to go to the west coast now they can come back home every now and then, so I definitely think it’s a positive thing.”