He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he holds several school records, including most passing yards in a single game with 573, as well as being the first player to throw for six touchdowns three times.

[1][2] In 2016, his father, Coleridge Bernard Stroud III, received a 38-years-to-life sentence after pleading guilty to kidnapping, carjacking and robbery in connection with a drug-related incident under California's three-strikes law.

[13][14][15] Stroud has been friends with Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young since the two went to high schools located in Southern California.

He was chosen over freshmen Kyle McCord, Quinn Ewers, and fellow redshirt freshman Jack Miller III.

Coach Ryan Day credited his decision-making, leadership skills, and accuracy as the reasons that he earned the starting spot.

[32] In the Peach Bowl semifinal against the top-seeded Georgia Bulldogs, Stroud had a strong performance, throwing for 348 yards and four touchdowns, but the Buckeyes lost 42–41, ending their season.

[41] During Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts, Stroud threw his first two NFL touchdowns, one to Nico Collins and the other to Tank Dell, and finished with 384 passing yards in the 31–20 loss.

[47] In Week 8, Stroud faced his friend and fellow top draft pick Bryce Young for the first time in the NFL.

[51] After a two-game absence, Stroud made his return in Week 17 against the Tennessee Titans, completing 24 of 32 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown in a 26–3 victory.

[52] In a win-or-go-home situation against the Colts, Stroud completed 20 of 26 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns in a 23–19 win, clinching the Texans' first playoff berth since 2019.

[58] In the Divisional round against the top-seeded Ravens in a rematch of Week 1, Stroud was held in check, completing 19 of 33 passes for 175 yards and a 72.2 rating as the Texans lost, 34–10.

[59] Stroud began the season by leading the Texans to back-to-back victories over the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears, throwing for a combined 494 yards, three touchdowns, and no turnovers.

[65] On Sunday Night Football in Week 10, he recorded 232 passing yards and a touchdown but threw two interceptions to Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis as the Texans lost 26–23.

[67] On Christmas Day against the Baltimore Ravens, Stroud had one of the worst outings of his career, completing 54.8% of his passes for 185 yards and an interception in a 31–2 loss.

[68] Stroud finished his second season with 3,727 yards, a 63.2 completion percentage, 20 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, an 87.0 passer rating, and 52 sacks, all of which were a decline from his breakout rookie campaign.

[70] In the Wild Card round against the Los Angeles Chargers, Stroud completed 22 of 33 passes, accompanied with a touchdown and an interception as he led the Texans to a 32–12 home victory[71][72] including a busted play in the second quarter where Stroud recovered a botched snap near his own end zone and connected with Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard gain.