  We consider the impact of colored scalars that can couple directly to matter
fields on the recently measured h to gamma gamma excess. Among all possible
candidates only scalar states transforming as (8, 2,1/2) and (6,3,1/3) under
the Standard Model gauge group can individually accommodate the excess and
remain in agreement with all available data. Current experimental constraints
require such colored states to have an order one coupling to the Standard Model
Higgs and a mass below 300 GeV. We use the best fit values to predict the
correlated effect in h to Z gamma and di-Higgs production. We furthermore
discuss where and how these states appear in extensions of the Standard Model
with primary focus on scenarios of matter unification. We revisit two simple
SU(5) setups to show that these two full-fledged models not only accommodate a
light color octet state but correlate its mass with observable partial proton
decay lifetimes.
