Since New Year’s Day in 1937, the Cotton Bowl has showcased two top teams in college football. The contest was originally held at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dal🤡las but has since moved to AT&T Stadium aka Jerry World, home of the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington.
This year’s Cotton Bowl Classic features the No. 7 Ohio Buckeyes taking on the ninth-ranked Missouri Tigers. These two teams haven’t met since 1998 and will face off in a highly anticipated battle between top programs from 2023 in a New Year’s Six matchup.
The Buckeyes come in with an 11-1 record but will be without their starting quarterback Kyle McCord, who entered the transfer portal at the end of the regular season and committed to Syracuse. Instead, Ohio State will be led by backup Dev♛in Brown with possibly, but not likely, wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. at his di💦sposal. Harrison Jr. had an impressive 2023 campaign notching 67 receptions for 1,211 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, and is the first Ohio State receiver with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in school history.
This is the third time the Buckeyes will appear in the Cotton Bowl having won both prior matchups. In 💙2017 they crushed USC 24-7 and back in 1987, Ohio State came out victorious 28-12 against T🦩exas A&M.
Mizzou (10-2) is ranked in the Top 10 for the first time in a decade with quarterback Brady Cook leading the charge. Cook threw for 3,189 yards and 20 touchdowns with just six interceptions in the regular season. He’s joined by running back Cody Schrader, the winner of the Burlsworth Trophy, an honor given to the most outstanding player who began their career as a walk-on. Wideout Luther Burden lll is also expected to play as the Tigers roster is one with little turnover heading into Bowl season.
This matchup features a highly potent Mizzou offense and a defense that could present some trouble for an Ohio State team missing some key pieces and coming from a perceived weaker conference. The Buckeyes haven’t lost a non-playoff bowl game since 2011 or a non-playoff New Year’s Six game since 2008. However, Mizzou enters this contest in a better place roster-wise.
Who’s In and Who’s Out
For the Buckeyes, it’s still a mystery who will take the field on Friday night. Star wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. was not practicing as of earlier this week so speculation is he may sit the game out in preparation for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Leading rusher TreVꦆeyon Henderson will start while his backup Chip Trayanum left the team and is ඣtransferring to Kentucky.
On the other side of the ball, Mizzou HC Eliah Drinkwitz will hav൩e a fairly intact offense, however, two of the Tigers’ top defensive players — cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper — will sit out with injuries.
Prediction: The Tigers’ motivation projects at a higher level for this contest and will feature more pieces of their high-octane offense. Pick: Mizzou +3
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