CJ Stroud on Nico Collins going to Michigan: 'It sucks that he went there'

The Houston Texans (10-7) clinched a playoff berth in the AFC Saturday, much due to the connection between quarterback CJ Stroud and receiver Nico Collins.

Stroud and Collins connected nine times for 195 yards and a score as the Texans defeated the Indianapolis Colts (9-8), 23-19. The two indeed share a special connection on the field, one of the best in the NFL, despite the fact they were once rivals.

Stroud, of course, is the former Ohio State star who led the Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff appearance in 2022. Collins, on the other hand, was a standout wideout at Michigan. Both share a commonality in that Stroud never beat the Wolverines and Collins never witnessed the joy of defeating the Buckeyes.

Moments removed from their incredible performance together, Stroud briefly touched on the rivalry with Michigan set to play for a national title Monday in Houston of all places. Stroud said that he and Collins have a “truce” not to talk about it, before dropping a light-hearted zinger.

"[Nico Collins] never beat [Ohio State] and I never beat [Michigan] so we don't really talk about it."

—C.J. Stroud with @notthefakeSVP on the Wolverines potentially winning a title in Houston 😂 pic.twitter.com/OvzI8A6TbI

— ESPN (@espn) January 7, 2024

“Me and Nico, we actually have a truce,” Stroud told Scott Van Pelt of ESPN. “He never beat us, and I never beat them, so we don’t really talk about it much… It sucks that he went there.”

CJ Stroud wraps up phenomenal rookie campaign with win over Colts

Where the two went to school clearly has no impact on their connection, which was on centerstage with the Texans playing in their first primetime game this season. Stroud further solidified his case for the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, completing 20-of-26 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns. He finishes his rookie regular season campaign with 4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions and a passer rating of 100.8. Stroud is the fifth rookie in NFL history to reach the 4,000-yard passing milestone.

“CJ doesn’t surprise me,” head coach DeMeco Ryans said after the game, via DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. “We talked about it earlier in the week with CJ being special in these big-time moments when you need it most, to step up and make plays. He’s done it time after time throughout the entire year. It’s not surprising. That’s who he is. He’s one of the best passers in this league. And he shows it consistently, game in and game out.”