In the 88th rendition of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the No. 9 Missouri Tigers, boasting an impressive defensive prowess, persisted for nearly three quarters. Despite an initially struggling offense, they found their rhythm against the formidable No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2). The pivotal moment they materialized with two prolonged, successive touchdown drives, propelling Mizzou to a victorious 14-3 outcome. So, they will be achieving the remarkable feat of securing the school’s fourth 11-victory season in history.
Trailing 3-0 with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter. The Missouri Tigers crafted an eight-play, 95-yard drive that concluded with a seven-yard touchdown run by Cody Schrader. Notably, Schrader tenaciously dragged two OSU defenders into the endzone. The pivotal moment of the drive unfolded with a significant 49-yard play-action pass from Brady Cook to Marquis Johnson.
Following a successful defense that led to an OSU punt, the Tigers assumed control at their nine-yard line. They proceeded to advance 91 yards, securing another score in the process. The drive commenced with a 30-yard pass to Theo Wease Jr., followed by a series of impactful runs by Schrader. But, a crucial fourth-down run by Cook, propelling them into the red zone. Subsequently, Cook delivered a precise seven-yard touchdown pass to Luther Burden III, solidifying a commanding 14-3 lead.
In the subsequent Ohio State possession, Daylan Carnell executed a sack on Buckeye quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, inducing a fumble. Joe Moore III expeditiously secured the recovered fumble, enabling the Tigers to tactically control the clock until the culmination of the game.
Counter Attacking Game of Cody Schrader
Schrader accumulated 29 rushing attempts, amassing 128 yards and registering a touchdown for the 10th consecutive game. This remarkable display elevated his season rushing total to a Mizzou-record 1,627 yards, surpassing the previous record of 1,604 set by Tyler Badie two years ago.
Bestowed with the title of the game’s offensive MVP, Cook completed 11 of 18 passes for 128 yards, securing a touchdown. Additionally, he showcased his agility by running 19 times, covering 66 yards.
The defense of MU limited Ohio State to 203 total yards and recorded four quarterback sacks. Johnny Walker, Jr. played a significant role with 1.5 of those sacks and earned the title of the game’s defensive MVP. Jaylon Carlies and Triston Newson emerged as the top tacklers, contributing 11 and 10 tackles, respectively.
The victory boosted Missouri’s historical bowl record to 16-20, representing its first triumph since 2015 and its inaugural one during Coach Eliah Drinkwitz’s four-year tenure at MU. This achievement also secured the Tigers’ third consecutive Cotton Bowl triumph. Notably, the victory against the Buckeyes was the first since 1976, bringing the Tigers’ all-time bowl record against Big 10 opponents to 3-2.
The sole points for Ohio State were earned through a 44-yard field goal by Fielding in the first quarter. Notably, Fielding also struck the upright with a 48-yard attempt in the third quarter. Missouri Tigers accumulated a mere 112 total yards in the initial half but concluded the game with 331 yards.
