The No. 9 Missouri Tigers (11-2) secured a hard-fought victory against the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2) in the 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, winning 14-3. The Tigers’ defense played a crucial role in holding off Ohio State until the offense found its rhythm in the later stages of the game.
The turning point came in the third quarter when Mizzou, trailing 3-0, orchestrated an impressive eight-play, 95-yard drive. Cody Schrader capped off the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run, dragging two OSU defenders into the endzone. A key play during this drive was a 49-yard play-action pass from quarterback Brady Cook to Marquis Johnson.
Following a defensive stop and an OSU punt, the Tigers started a 91-yard scoring drive that sealed the victory. Cook connected with Theo Wease Jr. for a 30-yard gain, and Schrader’s powerful runs, along with a crucial fourth-down conversion by Cook, set up a seven-yard touchdown pass to Luther Burden III. This extended Mizzou’s lead to 14-3.
In the subsequent Ohio State possession, Daylan Carnell sacked Buckeye quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, causing a fumble that was recovered by Joe Moore III. The Tigers then successfully ran out the clock to secure the win.
Cody Schrader had a standout performance, carrying the ball 29 times for 128 yards and scoring a touchdown for the 10th consecutive game. This effort brought Schrader’s season rushing total to a Missouri-record 1,627 yards, surpassing the previous record set by Tyler Badie two years ago.
Brady Cook, named the game’s offensive MVP, completed 11-of-18 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown while also contributing 66 rushing yards on 19 carries.
Missouri’s defense played a crucial role, limiting Ohio State to 203 total yards and recording four quarterback sacks. Johnny Walker, Jr., who contributed 1.5 sacks, was named the game’s defensive MVP. Jaylon Carlies and Triston Newson were the top tacklers with 11 and 10 tackles, respectively.
The victory marked Missouri’s first bowl win since 2015 and Coach Eliah Drinkwitz’s first in his four-year tenure. It was also the Tigers’ third consecutive Cotton Bowl triumph. The team improved its all-time bowl record to 16-20 and secured its first win against Ohio State since 1976. In matchups against Big 10 opponents, Missouri is now 3-2 all-time in bowl games.
Looking ahead, the Tigers will kick off the 2024 season by hosting the Murray State Racers at Faurot Field on August 31.
In other late week bowl games:
Clemson staged a dramatic comeback in the Gator Bowl, defeating Kentucky 38-35. Phil Mafah ran for four touchdowns, including the game-winning 3-yard run with 17 seconds left. The final quarter featured five turnovers, four touchdowns, and five lead changes, with Clemson outscoring Kentucky 28-14 in the last 15 minutes. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik played a crucial role, completing a 16-yard pass to Troy Stellato on third-and-18 to set up Mafah’s decisive touchdown. Clemson ended the season with a five-game winning streak, finishing with a 9-4 record.
No. 15 Notre Dame dominated No. 21 Oregon State in the Sun Bowl with a convincing 40-8 victory. Quarterback Steve Angeli, making his first start for the Irish in place of Sam Hartman, threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns. Jordan Faison, who had five catches for 115 yards and a touchdown, earned the game’s MVP. Notre Dame’s defense held Oregon State to just two yards rushing and limited them to 197 total yards. The Irish finished the season with a 10-3 record and look forward to a promising 2024 season with momentum from the Sun Bowl win.
Memphis secured a 36-26 victory over Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl, and several key statistics contributed to the win. Memphis had zero turnovers, zero penalties, and held Iowa State to zero yards rushing. Quarterback Seth Henigan led the way with 364 passing yards and four touchdowns, while running back Blake Watson added 107 rushing yards. The defense played a crucial role in limiting Iowa State’s rushing game and contributing to the team’s overall success. With the win, Memphis finished the season with a 10-3 record, amassing over 530 yards of total offense in the Liberty Bowl.
In the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Kansas State secured a 28-19 victory over No. 19 North Carolina State. Freshman quarterback Avery Johnson, making his first start, threw for two touchdowns and ran for one, while DJ Giddens rushed for 151 yards and scored twice. The Wildcats finished the season 9-4, with Johnson directing a crucial 15-play, 72-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
North Carolina State’s quarterback Brennan Armstrong rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown and threw for 164 yards in his final game. However, the Wolfpack fell short of winning 10 games, concluding the season with a 9-4 record.
The win marked a successful season for Kansas State, and both Johnson and Giddens are expected to return in 2024. North Carolina State will need to replace Armstrong, a fifth-year senior, and graduating ACC Defensive Player of the Year Payton Wilson.
Arizona staged a remarkable comeback in the Valero Alamo Bowl, securing a 38-24 victory over Oklahoma. Gunner Maldonado played a crucial role, returning a fumble 87 yards for a touchdown and also grabbing an interception. The Wildcats forced six turnovers in total, scoring 25 consecutive points to close the game.
Freshman QB Noah Fifita threw for 354 yards and two touchdowns for Arizona, which closed the season with seven straight victories. Jacob Cowing, named the offensive MVP, contributed seven receptions for 152 yards and two touchdowns, while Tetairoa McMillan added 10 receptions for 160 yards.
Oklahoma’s freshman quarterback Jackson Arnold threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns but also had three interceptions in his first career start. Despite the loss, the Sooners finished the season 10-3.
The win marked Arizona’s first bowl appearance since 2017, capping off a successful season after finishing 1-11 in 2021. The Wildcats will join the Big 12 next season, while Oklahoma is set to join the Southeastern Conference.
