Missouri Tigers Win Cotton Bowl Against Ohio State Buckeyes
The Missouri Tigers won the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on Friday, overcoming the Ohio State Buckeyes with a 14-3 victory. The Tigers’ red-zone offense, which was already the best in the country, converted 54 out of 55 attempts heading into the game. However, their problem was getting to the red zone, as neither team was able to penetrate this territory until late in the third quarter.
It was the Tigers’ first trip into the red zone, and a 7-yard touchdown rush by Cody Schrader early in the fourth quarter ultimately put Missouri ahead. The touchdown drive seemed to flip the script for the Tigers, as they went on to force a punt, score a touchdown, and force a fumble in the following sequences en route to their victory.
Quarterback Brady Cook, who was named the game’s offensive MVP, accumulated 194 scrimmage yards, while Cody Schrader, the FBS leader in rushing yards per game, finished the day with 128 rushing yards and one TD. Mizzou edge rusher Johnny Walker Jr. was named the game’s defensive MVP.
Ohio State struggled with inconsistent quarterback play, ultimately leading to their defeat. True-freshman QB Lincoln Kienholz, who assumed the role after an injury to Devin Brown, was not able to make a significant impact, with the Buckeyes accumulating just 106 passing yards in the game.
Despite the low-scoring and relatively uneventful nature of the game, Missouri’s victory validated their successful season and proved that it was no fluke. On the other hand, Ohio State’s disappointing performance was attributed to poor quarterback play, which held back the team’s potential.
Overall, the Tigers’ win represented a significant achievement for a program that is striving to build something special, while Ohio State will have to reevaluate its quarterback situation to improve in the coming seasons.