Ohio State Buckeyes Coach Ryan Day Previews Cotton Bowl vs. Missouri Tigers
It's certainly not the season finale they were hoping for, but the Ohio State Buckeyes still get a chance to have a successful end to their 2023 campaign when they take on the Missouri Tigers in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Friday, Dec. 29.
No. 7 Ohio State (11-1) essentially sealed its fate for the College Football Playoff after the 30-24 loss to Michigan on Nov. 25. Unlike last season when the Buckeyes earned the No. 4 seed in the CFP, not competing in the Big Ten Championship and bowing out to the rival Wolverines severely hurt Ohio State's chances in a playoff race that was much more competitive than in 2022.
This year, No. 9 Missouri (10-2) posted its first 10-win season in nearly a decade, as the Tigers last reached that mark during an 11-3 campaign in 2014. In his fourth year with the program, coach Eli Drinkwitz turned things around after three straight losing seasons and led the Tigers to three wins over ranked opponents.
After the bowl matchup was announced, Ohio State coach Ryan Day previewed Missouri, but admitted he still has some film work to do before getting into the details.
"I haven't dove into the film," Day said. "Just getting the announcement here in the last couple hours. So we'll do that soon. But I know Eli does a great job in all three phases. He's always done a great job on offense. Defensive coordinator (Blake Baker) has done a great job as well and their scheme and what they're doing. And then they play a tough schedule, like you said, in the SEC. They have got to bring it every week and have some really good wins this year, against Tennessee and Kentucky and South Carolina. So we know they're a very good team."
Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Johnny Walker Jr (15) and Jay Jernigan celebrate after a defensive touchdown by Jernigan in the third quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks
© Nelson Chenault, USA TODAY
The Tigers' only two losses this season came to stout SEC competition. Mizzou had a crushing 49-39 loss to Heisman finalist Jayden Daniels and the LSU Tigers on Oct. 7 before hanging tough with the-No. 2 Georgia on the road in a 30-21 loss on Nov. 4.
After going finishing 6-7 the past two seasons, Missouri was two tight losses away from competing for a SEC title and potentially a CFP spot this year.
The Tigers have some talented players on both sides, but the stars shined bright for an offense that averaged the fifth-most yards (442.9) during the regular season.
Doak Walker finalist and running back Cody Schrader finished the season with 247 carries for a SEC-high 1,489 yards and 13 touchdowns. Sophomore receiver Luther Burden III struggled to find consistency as a freshman last season, but broke out this year. He ended the regular season as the SEC's third-leading receiver after posting 83 catches for 1,197 yards and eight touchdowns.
But of course, Mizzou doesn't have its successful season with having some NFL-level players on defense. Defensive back Kris Abrams-Draine was tied for the SEC lead in passes defended (11) while posting four interceptions. Defensive lineman Darius Robinson was fifth in the conference with 7.5 sacks.
Ohio State had its sights set on the CFP, but shouldn't let the disappointing end to this season cloud the focus that will be required to beat a Mizzou team that's hungry for its first New Year's Six win since 2013.
