Friday night's bowl schedule includes the first New Year's Six showdown of the postseason when No. 7 Ohio State meets No. 9 Missouri in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Buckeyes have dominated the all-time series at 10-1-1 – the last meeting was in 1998. This time, however, they face a Missouri team that is coming off its best regular season since 2014. The Tigers should be very motivated for their first ever appearance in a New Year's Six game.
Although the Buckeyes missed out on a spot in the College Football Playoff due to their loss to rival Michigan in the regular season finale, their appearance in the Cotton Bowl is still a historic achievement. Ohio State is the only program to appear in a New Year's Six bowl in all ten seasons during the four-team College Football Playoff era.
But Ohio State will face significant changes to its offense after starting quarterback Kyle McCord transferred to Syracuse following the end of the regular season. Heisman finalist receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will not be available as the junior is drawing significant interest from the NFL. The Buckeyes' second-leading rusher, Chip Trayanum, also hit the portal and is headed to Kentucky.
Nonetheless, Ohio State still brings plenty of talent to the table, even if some of it is still unproven.
Follow LIVE UPDATES on Friday as Ohio State battles Missouri in the 2023 Cotton Bowl.
Ohio State vs. Missouri: What you need to know
Historical beginning: Devin Brown will become the first quarterback in program history to make his first bowl game start. According to 247Sports, the sophomore was rated as a four-star prospect and the No. 5 quarterback in the class of 2022. As a substitute for McCord, he appeared in five games this season. His most significant action came in Week 2 against Youngstown State, when he completed seven of 13 passes and drove in six runs. In some ways, this game could be viewed as an audition for Brown as Ohio State coach Ryan Day assesses the future of the quarterback position ahead of the offseason.
Young receivers could shine: Harrison had a breakout Rose Bowl two seasons ago with three touchdown catches after a quiet freshman season. It was a taste of great things to come for Harrison. Now another young receiver could use the bowl stage to emerge for the Buckeyes at the start of the 2024 season. The leading candidate is Carnell Tate, who caught 17 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown in the regular season. The former five-star prospect was the third-best receiver in the 2023 recruiting class and has shown his potential when given opportunities this season. With No. 3 wide receiver Julian Fleming in the transfer portal and Harrison not playing, Tate could use the Cotton Bowl to announce his arrival on the national stage.
Mizzou's Elite Trio: Missouri's offense found its footing this season behind the elite trio of quarterback Brady Cook, running back Cody Schrader and receiver Luther Burden. Cook's passer efficiency mark of 158.08 ranks third all-time in program history as the junior developed into one of the SEC's best quarterbacks. Schrader earned First Team All-American honors from CBS Sports by rushing for 1,499 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season. Finally, Burden had a breakout sophomore season with 1,197 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, earning second-team All-American honors from CBS Sports. All three are expected to play against the Buckeyes.
How to watch Cotton Bowl live
Date: Friday December 29th | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
TV: ESPN | Live broadcast: Fubo (Try for free)
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Cotton Bowl Prediction, Tips
SportsLine consensus odds
After McCord's departure to Syracuse, Brown is making his first career start. Brown has played sporadically in his two seasons with the Buckeyes, and there will be no letup. Missouri is an extremely capable SEC opponent, with its only losses coming against LSU and Georgia. Mizzou will be motivated to perform well in its first-ever New Year's Six appearance, while Ohio State may struggle to maintain that energy due to the disappointment of missing the College Football Playoff. Expect the Tigers to shine on defense and complete a successful season for fourth-year coach Eli Drinkwitz. Pick: Missouri +1
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