J.J. McCarthy went without his signature eye black in his first start for the New York Giants, and the Giants beat C.J. Stroud's Houston Texans 27-21 in overtime as McCarthy threw for 252 yards. The reason goes back to his Michigan days. McCarthy says Ohio State coach Ryan Day broke a recruiting promise by accepting Kyle McCord's commitment, so he stopped wearing eye black against the Buckeyes so Day could see him directly. That habit carried over to a matchup with Stroud, a former Ohio State quarterback, though McCarthy says he has no grudge against Stroud himself. The eye black returns against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9.