Cotton Bowl 'Means a Lot' To Ryan Day and Ohio State
The Ohio State Buckeyes might not be in the College Football Playoff this season, but that doesn't mean their season is over.
On Friday, the Buckeyes will take the field at AT&T Stadium in Arlington against the No. 9 Missouri Tigers in the Cotton Bowl with an opportunity to win a New Year's Six Bowl, and earn their first 12-win season since 2019.
And it is a chance that, despite not having the typical Playoff implications, means a lot to Ryan Day and the program.
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“Winning the Cotton Bowl means a lot to the people of Ohio," Day said Saturday. "It means a lot to Ohio State. It means a lot to our team to win this game and do it the right way. And so that’s what we’re gonna do this week.”
The players are also excited about the opportunity, which has been evident by the number of players who, despite being in consideration for a Day 1 or Day 2 NFL Draft selection, have yet to opt out of the game.
Sure, some opt-outs may still come, but as of yet, the Buckeyes seem to be in line to have the vast majority of their starting lineup intact on Friday.
“I think just having an opportunity, like I said, to go out on a big stage, in an environment as incredible as the Cowboys’ stadium, I think our team is going to cherish that opportunity," Xavier Johnson. "And I think the way you cherish an opportunity like that is to go out there and give it your best.”
Yes, it is not the typical stage that the Buckeyes are used to being on.
But despite it not being a playoff game, facing off against a top-10 SEC team at AT&T Stadium in a New Year's Six bowl game is about as big of a stage as it gets.
And they will be ready for the Challenge.
“We know it’s going to be a challenge," Day said. "We’d expect nothing less coming to the Cotton Bowl."
