Cotton Bowl Preview: Ohio State vs. Missouri،
Two years ago, Ohio State, having narrowly missed out on a CFP bid and facing some marquee waivers, faced both motivational questions and an early deficit in the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes showed determination, however, fighting back from 14 points at halftime to beat Utah 48-45.
This time around, No. 6 Ohio State narrowly missed out on a CFP offer and faces the prospect of even more opt-outs (and the transfer of starting quarterback Kyle McCord). Backup quarterback Devin Brown is expected to start against No. 9 Missouri following McCord's departure. The Buckeyes are Mizzou's highest-ranked bowl opponent since the 1970 Orange Bowl, and the Tigers should head into the game with their two-deep mostly intact. Should we have another barn burner at the Rose Bowl level? Will a much more inspired Tigers team put down the hammer? Or will the Buckeyes prove too talented to topple?
No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Missouri
The classic Goodyear cotton bowl
When: December 29, 8 p.m. ET
Or: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
How to watch: ESPN and the ESPN app
Opening line: Ohio State -0.5
Key Player: RB Cody Schrader
That's incredible to say about a team with a 3,000-yard passer (Brady Cook), a nearly 1,200-yard blue-chip receiver (Luther Burden III), and first-team all-SEC players. at tackle (Javon Foster), a defensive end. (Darius Robinson) and cornerback (Kris Abrams-Draine), but the Tigers' success down the stretch is mainly due to Schrader. Over the last five games, the Burlsworth Award winner (for best former backup) has averaged 196 yards per scrimmage and 6.3 yards per carry. His consistent efficiency even produced 112 rushing yards against Georgia, and his absurd work rate shows a mentality every football coach in the country strives for.
X Factor: CB Kris Abrams-Draine
Missouri has allowed a quarterback to post a passer rating above 150 just three times this season: in losses to LSU and Georgia and in a surprising near-loss to Florida. The Tigers secondary won a lot of battles, notably Abrams-Draine (37 tackles, four interceptions, 10 breakups, 36% completion rate allowed, 12.0 QBR allowed), but bad things happened when it didn't. is not the case. And even with opt-outs and portal entries likely to wreak havoc on Ohio State's depth chart on offense, the Buckeyes have an endless supply of blue-chip players in the world. The Mizzou DBs will have to make a big effort to keep the score down.
How Missouri Wins: Play Like a Motivated Underdog
With its first top 10 in 10 years and a depth chart likely less impacted by pregame attrition, Mizzou should theoretically be the most motivated and the most intact team. Against Georgia, the Tigers proved they can fight for 60 minutes against teams with elite talent, and while they are able to capitalize on their opportunities better than against the Dawgs, they have completed six drives on Georgian territory but scored. only two touchdowns, and they had a worse third-down conversion rate – a victory is within reach. (Landing some early haymakers and truly testing Ohio State's motivation levels wouldn't hurt either.) —Bill Connelly
Key player: WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
Even with the eyes of every opposing defense on him, Harrison nearly matched his sophomore campaign numbers in 2022 (77 catches for 1,263 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns). He became the first receiver in Ohio State history to record consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (67 receptions for 1,211 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023). His 14 touchdown receptions place him in a four-way tie for second nationally. He's caught at least one touchdown pass in each of the Buckeyes' last eight games and has thrown for two touchdowns per game during a three-game stretch — wins over Wisconsin, Rutgers and Michigan State — in the second half of the season. . He will aim for a ninth 100-yard receiving game against Missouri.
X Factor: RB TreVeyon Henderson
The decision of McCord, a high school teammate of Harrison's, to enter the transfer portal Monday throws the Buckeyes' offense, which is averaging 425 yards per game (36th in the FBS) and 32.8 points per game (32nd in the FBS), in a bit of a loop. Enter junior running back Henderson (854 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns), who will be asked to take some pressure off whoever Ryan Day decides to start at quarterback against the Tigers — likely the student in sophomore Devin Brown. Henderson, who led Ohio State's September win over Notre Dame in South Bend (104 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries), missed three games due to injury but has recently found his rhythm — thanks to 100-yard games in three of the Buckeyes. “The last five games of the season.
How Ohio State wins: Whoever starts at QB lights it up
After winning the quarterback competition with Devin Brown, McCord became only the seventh quarterback in school history to throw for at least 3,000 yards. With McCord's decision to leave before the Cotton Bowl, there are obviously a lot of questions to answer, right down the middle. But whether it's Brown (12 of 22 passes for 197 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception in five games this season) or true freshman Lincoln Kienholz who gets the start, Ohio State will have to rely on its weapons (receivers Marvin Harrison , Jr., Emeka Egbuka and tight end Cade Stover). Ohio State has been the leading school for ESPN 300 receivers since offensive coordinator and receivers coach Brian Hartline, who played at Columbus from 2006-08, returned to campus in 2018. He'll need to make that especially evident against Missouri. — Blake Baumgartner
