In a recent interview, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin stirred up the rivalry in the AFC South with his bold statements regarding the division contenders. Franklin, who played a remarkable 100 percent of defensive snaps last season, has yet to see his team win a division title in his six-year tenure. This season, Franklin dismisses the Titans as a contender, instead identifying the young quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans as the Colts' biggest threat.

On the Green Light with Chris Long podcast, Franklin didn't hold back when discussing his rivals. Regarding the Titans, he confidently stated, "No, because I already smacked them a couple times." However, it was the Texans and their rising star quarterback, C.J. Stroud, who drew the linebacker's attention. Franklin expressed both admiration and animosity toward Stroud, claiming that he said "a lot of wild stuff" in their encounters.

The Colts and Texans split their two games last season, with Houston ultimately clinching the division title in the regular-season finale. Franklin took issue with how Stroud portrayed their season series, pointing out that the Colts had a significant lead in their Week 2 matchup. Despite Stroud's impressive statistics against the Colts, Franklin reminded him that he has yet to defeat Colts' quarterback, Anthony Richardson.

The rivalry between Franklin and Stroud adds an exciting layer to the already heated AFC South competition. With the Colts determined to claim their first division title since 2014, Franklin's comments are likely to fuel both teams' motivation to outperform each other.

As the new season approaches, the AFC South promises to be a battleground where the Colts, Texans, Titans, and even the Jaguars will fight tooth and nail for the coveted division crown. Franklin's bold statements have only added more intensity to the already fierce rivalries, setting the stage for an exhilarating season in the AFC South.