SAD NEWS: Ohio State ahead of Cotton Bowl matchup against Missouri two key players set to miss the Sensational Clash due to…

With Ohio State’s 2023 starter Kyle McCord transferring to Syracuse, sophomore Devin Brown will play in the Cotton Bowl in hopes to build his resume for the 2024 starting job. The No. 6 quarterback prospect in the class of 2022 appeared in five games in 2023, mainly being used in a goal line run package where he rushed for 35 yards on 19 attempts. Though this package provided Brown a role on the 2023 team, he was injured on a rush in Ohio State’s week 7 game against Penn State.

Brown competed with McCord for the starting job this offseason but did not win the crown. While it will undoubtedly be a challenge for Ohio State to adjust to a new signal caller through the chaos of a game, Missouri will be facing an unknown threat. It’s difficult to prepare for a quarterback who has only thrown 22 passes in his college career. But the Tigers don’t seem to be too tripped up with the challenge. Missouri defensive coordinator Blake Baker spoke about the unique preparation required for a quarterback’s debut start.

“We mostly looked at what he’s done this year and I think he had like 76 snaps or something on the season,” Baker said. “Then you kind of blend that with what they already do and maybe some things differently than they may do based off of his skill set.”

Missouri senior safety JC Carlies also talked about the preparation for Brown along with the importance of quickly adjusting in game to the quarterback’s tendencies.

“It’s definitely a challenge because you don’t know their (Brown’s) strengths and weaknesses,” Carlies said. “It’s also fun just trying to figure out the quarterback throughout the game. Figure out the tendencies and what they like to do. As we’re going through this process, we’re treating it like we do anybody else. Going through the motions of preparing for quarterbacks who we might have played before.”

Wide Receiver Room is Still Strong Without Harrison Jr.

Even Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline couldn’t help but smile when quipping back to a reporter with “how do you know Marv’s not playing?”

Hartline knows it, Missouri’s defense knows it, you probably know it; there’s a very slim chance that wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. ends up playing for Ohio State on Friday. Missouri is still preparing as if Harrison Jr. will be playing in order to not be caught off guard.

“It really doesn’t make a difference,” Missouri cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine said. “Because I feel like he was going to play anyway, so we prepare for him to play.”