Will Ohio State Embrace Joe Burrow as Their Own Over Favored Son CJ Stroud, Amidst A Controversial Past

When an NFL player has played in multiple teams at the college level, it gets ugly. Every college that the player had played for wants the bragging rights. And now that time has come for Cincinnati Bengals QB, Joe Burrow, who also happens to be the NFL’s highest-paid player. He made headlines in September when he signed a five-year extension worth $275 million.

After a middling start to the season, he’s beginning to get in form and is performing his mid-season magic. It’s natural that both colleges that he has played for want to claim him for themselves.

Joe Burrow played his best in LSU, but his heart is with Ohio

The $275 million player had enrolled at Ohio State in 2015 and graduated from the school. After that, he transferred to the LSU with 2 years of eligibility remaining. People might know Burrow as only an LSU Tigers player, but the fact remains that he played 3 of his 5 college football years for the Ohio State Buckeyes. His stint at Ohio was abysmal, scoring only 2 TDs and passing for 287 yards. That’s why he recently said in an interview, “I always say I went to school at Ohio State and played football at LSU”.

Once in LSU, within two years, he earned himself a serious claim to the title of “the greatest college football player” with 8,585 passing yards and 76 TDs! At LSU, he won the Heisman Trophy and led the Tigers to an undefeated national championship season. So, it’s clear, right? He should be considered an LSU product since he “actually” played football there. In the same interview, when a report asked him why OSU rarely mentions him as their product, he said, “You’ll have to ask them”.

But Burrow made things more complicated when in 2022, ahead of Super Bowl LVI, he told reporters, “I’m definitely still a Buckeye”. Now, a former Buckeye player is up in the coming week to face off against his alumnus.

CJ Stroud shined at Buckeye, whereas Joe Burrow could not

CJ Stroud had a very different experience with the Ohio State Buckeyes. He too played 3 years with them but managed to rake in 8123 passing yards, and 85 TDs. And all that in just two years since he did not get much playing time during his first year. The Buckeyes have won 21 of the 25 games that Stroud played as a starter. He also helped Ohio State win the 2021 Rose Bowl.

Fast forward to November 12, 2023, and he will be clashing against his senior from college. It could very well be the clash of two of the finest quarterbacks to pass through the hallowed halls of the Ohio State University. Kick-off is at 1:00 PM ET on November 12 at Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati.

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