Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown wears No. 33 in honor of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh, who completed his college career as the Cotton Bowl MVP 87 years ago.
Brown will become the first Buckeyes quarterback to start in a bowl game when he takes the field against ninth-ranked Missouri in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night (7 p.m., ESPN).
“What an experience for me, and a pretty cool story to go along with that,” said Brown, a 20-year-old sophomore who hasn’t played since Oct. 21, but takes over when Kyle McCord left Ohio State for Syracuse earlier this month.
“He’s a super bubbly, joyous guy to be around,” said receiver Emeka Egbuka. “Excellent personality. That’s fantastic, and I think he’s a fantastic player.”
The seventh-ranked Buckeyes (11-1) are playing for the first time since a 30-24 loss at Michigan in the regular-season finale between undefeated teams, which cost them the Big Ten title and a position in the four-team College Football Playoff. McCord, who beat out Brown for the starting role in a close preseason race, departed the game afterward.
Missouri (10-2) has a three-game winning streak since opening November with a 30-21 loss at then-No. 1 Georgia, thanks to All-American running back Cody Schrader, two-year starting quarterback Brady Cook, and playmaking receiver Luther Burden III. The Tigers entered coach Eliah Drinkwitz’s fourth season after a string of 6-7 records that included bowl losses.
“I believe the most significant change I’ve witnessed is the closeness of our brotherhood and the trust we’ve built.” Last year, I believe there was still some skepticism. “We had a lot of new players from the portal,” said Schrader, a former walk-on who is now leading the nation in rushing (124.9 yards per game), as he did in NCAA Division II. “We had another whole offseason together to bond, build that relationship.”
Baugh wore No. 45 for TCU in that Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day 1937, but “Slingin’ Sammy” wore No. 33 for the rest of his 16 NFL seasons — all with Washington — after being drafted in the first round. Brown said he began playing quarterback at the age of eight and was wearing No. 33 when his father told him stories about Baugh. Brown wore No. 15 for the Buckeyes at first, but moved to No. 33 last spring.
Brown has played in seven games for Ohio State in two seasons, attempting only 22 passes. He completed 12 of those for 197 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, but now has the opportunity to set the tone for 2024.
“Everyone in this game has a chance to build some momentum for next year.” Devin is in exactly that situation. “This is exactly what he wanted,” said Ohio State coach Ryan Day. “As of right now, I mean, he’s our quarterback and we’re moving forward, and this is a great opportunity for him to go build more confidence with the guys around him as we head into next season.”
- Line: Ohio State by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook
- Series record: Ohio State leads 10-1-1
Marvin Harrison Jr., a two-time All-America selection, is likely to be a first-round choice in the NFL draft if he declares. While the third-year wide out is with the Buckeyes at the Cotton Bowl this week, he was primarily on the sidelines during open practice sessions.
When asked explicitly if Harrison would play on Thursday, Day indicated he wouldn’t comment on Harrison or any other players.
“I believe those are decisions made by the players and their families.” “I never want to be the one to go out there and put it out there,” Day explained. “Our people have been outstanding and professional. These guys are determined to win the game. So we’ll find out in approximately 24 hours.”
In 38 games with the Buckeyes, Harrison has 155 receptions for 2,613 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Strong defense
Missouri’s defense has forced 35 sacks and has a plus-9 turnover differential (18 takeaways, nine giveaways), which leads the SEC.
Ohio State allows only 259.9 total yards per game, ranking third in the country. The Buckeyes have the best passing defense in the country, allowing only 147 yards per game and 11 points per game.
Good memories
The Cotton Bowl is held at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, where the Buckeyes won the first national championship in the four-team College Football Playoff era.
Ohio State has won the Cotton Bowl twice before, once against Texas A&M on New Year’s Day 1987, when the game was still played at its namesake stadium, and once against Southern California precisely six years ago Friday.
Missouri leads the Cotton Bowl 2-1. The Tigers fell to Texas on New Year’s Day 1946, but beat Arkansas 62 years later and beat Oklahoma State in in&T Stadium at the end of the 2013 season.
Key matchup
All-American running back Cody Schrader, Brady Cook, playmaking WR Luther Burden III, and the Missouri offense face a Buckeyes defense that ranks third in the country, allowing only 259.9 yards per game. Schrader has 1,499 yards and 13 touchdowns, Cook has 3,189 yards and 20 touchdowns with only five interceptions, and Burden has 83 catches for 1,197 yards and eight touchdowns. Ohio State also has the best passing defense in the country, allowing only 147 yards per game and allowing only 11 points per game.
Missouri:Schrader was the NCAA Division II rushing leader two years ago before transferring and enrolling as a walk-on with the Tigers. With 124.9 yards per game entering the bowl season, he was the nation’s best rusher. He has scored touchdowns in nine consecutive games and rushed for 841 yards in the last five.
Ohio State:Devin Brown will be the first Buckeyes quarterback to make his bowl debut. Following Kyle McCord’s move to Syracuse, the sophomore quarterback threw only 22 passes in seven games the previous two seasons.
Ohio State has only won two Cotton Bowls in its history: 28-12 against Texas A&M on New Year’s Day 1987, when the Buckeyes were the first Big Ten club to compete in the contest, and 24-7 over Southern California six years ago Friday. Missouri’s defense has forced 35 sacks and has a plus-9 turnover differential (18 takeaways, nine giveaways), which leads the SEC.
