Buckeyes Now

Cotton Bowl 'Means a Lot' To Ryan Day and Ohio State

The Ohio State Buckeyes are excited about the opportunity in front of them in the Cotton Bowl

Matt Galatzan

In this story:

The Ohio State Buckeyes might not be in the College Football Playoff this season, but that doesn't mean their season is over. 

On Friday, the Buckeyes will take the field at AT&T Stadium in Arlington against the No. 9 Missouri Tigers in the Cotton Bowl with an opportunity to win a New Year's Six Bowl, and earn their first 12-win season since 2019. 

And it is a chance that, despite not having the typical Playoff implications, means a lot to Ryan Day and the program. 

Ryan Day
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK

“Winning the Cotton Bowl means a lot to the people of Ohio," Day said Saturday. "It means a lot to Ohio State. It means a lot to our team to win this game and do it the right way. And so that’s what we’re gonna do this week.”

The players are also excited about the opportunity, which has been evident by the number of players who, despite being in consideration for a Day 1 or Day 2 NFL Draft selection, have yet to opt out of the game. 

Sure, some opt-outs may still come, but as of yet, the Buckeyes seem to be in line to have the vast majority of their starting lineup intact on Friday. 

“I think just having an opportunity, like I said, to go out on a big stage, in an environment as incredible as the Cowboys’ stadium, I think our team is going to cherish that opportunity," Xavier Johnson. "And I think the way you cherish an opportunity like that is to go out there and give it your best.”

Ryan Day Believes 'A Lot' of Ohio State Players Could Return in 2024

Yes, it is not the typical stage that the Buckeyes are used to being on.

But despite it not being a playoff game, facing off against a top-10 SEC team at AT&T Stadium in a New Year's Six bowl game is about as big of a stage as it gets.

And they will be ready for the Challenge. 

“We know it’s going to be a challenge," Day said. "We’d expect nothing less coming to the Cotton Bowl."

Published
Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com, AllAggies.com, and the Managing Editor of BuckeyesNow.com and TheGroveReport.com He is also the Editor-In-Chief of RamDigest.com and TexansDaily.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com

Home/Football