J.J. McCarthy Abandons Eyeblack in Giants Win, Hinting at Ohio State Rivalry
Rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy foregoes his customary eyeblack during a New York Giants victory, a move observers link to his past animosity towards Ohio State.
New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy opted not to wear eyeblack during his team's overtime victory against the Houston Texans on Sunday, a departure from his usual game-day appearance. This decision has drawn attention and is believed to be connected to his history with the Ohio State Buckeyes.
McCarthy, who has worn eyeblack throughout his career, including his time at Michigan, notably abstained from using it in games against Ohio State. His aversion to the Buckeyes stems from his recruitment process, during which he felt misled by then-Ohio State head coach Ryan Day. This perceived slight contributed to McCarthy's strong feelings toward Ohio State, despite having been offered a scholarship by the university.
He ultimately chose to play for Michigan, where he had a successful record against Ohio State, going undefeated in three games. McCarthy's former Michigan quarterback coach stated that McCarthy wanted Ohio State's coaching staff to "see his face after he kicked his a - -." McCarthy himself has previously expressed that while he once "loved" the Buckeyes, he later wanted to "kill them" after his recruitment experience.
Given McCarthy's history, his decision to forego eyeblack in his first start for the Giants is seen by many as a symbolic gesture against Ohio State. This is particularly relevant as the Texans' quarterback, C.J. Stroud, played for Ohio State and never defeated Michigan during his college career. Stroud remains winless against a McCarthy-led team following Sunday's game.