The ninth-ranked Missouri Tigers and the seventh-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes will meet in the 88th annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium on Friday night.
The Buckeyes and Tigers have met 12 previous times, with Ohio State holding a decisive 10-1-1 advantage, and Friday’s meeting will be the first between the two squads since 1998.
Both teams had great seasons but faced different expectations when the year began.
Ohio State has developed itself into a perennial contender with national championship aspirations. Still, the Buckeyes have fallen short of that goal in each of the last three years as the Michigan Wolverines won the Big Ten and the right to represent the conference in the College Football Playoff.
Regardless, Ohio State is still one of the top teams in the country and features some of the most talented players in college football with elite units on offense and defense. There have been some changes to the offensive personnel going into this game, and star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. does not appear to be playing, giving way for others to step up and begin to build their Buckeye legacies and create some momentum heading into next season with opportunities in an expanded playoff field.
“We want to win the game. That’s the number one thing,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day told the media on Thursday. “We are going to  go in and do everything we possibly can to win the game and then go from there, but there are going to be some opportunities for guys to take on new roles in this game, different than has been this season.”
“So [I’m] excited for them, and we’ve seen that before,” he added. “You think about the Rose Bowl a couple of years ago where Marvin [Harrison Jr.] and Mek (Emeka Egbuka) went into the game and did a great job that freshman year, and it really built momentum into the offseason for them. … I think guys are going to play, and we’re going to win the game. That’s the number one thing, but at the same time, opportunity for some younger guys to get in there and build some momentum for the future.”
Meanwhile, Missouri exploded onto the scene in the SEC in the fourth year under head coach Eli Drinkwitz and won double-digit games for the first time since 2014 after back-to-back losing seasons.
Coordinator changes over the last couple of offseasons have led to improvements in all phases, and the Tigers did well to survive the brutal gauntlet that is the SEC.
“Most coaches come in with big egos trying to prove who they are. These guys came in with, ‘Hey, I just want to help us win,'” Drinkwitz explained during a Thursday press conference. “Very appreciative to them and their families and very appreciative to our administration for stepping up and helping us create a place that is where they want to be. We wouldn’t have the season we have if it wasn’t for [defensive coordinator] Blake Baker and [offensive coordinator] Kirby Moore and the way they’ve coached and related and communicated and connected to our football team.”
Yet, Missouri believes facing the Buckeyes will not be any easier.
“We have got an incredibly talented opponent,” Drinkwitz said. “They have all the makings of a championship football team. Probably the most explosive team that we’ve played offensively with the combination at running back, tight end, and wide receiver. Their offensive line does an incredible job of both protection and establishing lines of scrimmage.”
“Defensively, their front six is as tough and as strong as anybody in the country,” he continued. “I don’t think their backend has a whole lot of weaknesses. … So tremendous challenge for our football team. But we’re excited to play. And I know our guys are ready to compete at a high level. ”
The 88th annual Cotton Bowl Classic begins at 7 p.m. CT on Friday in Arlington.
