Missouri Down Two Key Starters For Cotton Bowl vs. Ohio State

The Missouri Tigers will be shorthanded at the Cotton Bowl vs. the Ohio State Buckeyes

Matt Galatzan | Dec 23, 2023

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Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes are expected to be nearly at full strength for their showdown in the Cotton Bowl vs. the Missouri Tigers next week.

Yes, they will be down their starting quarterback, with Kyle McCord transferring to Syracuse earlier this month, and Lathan Ransom still recovering from the injury he suffered vs. Wisconsin in November.

Outside of that, even with the NFL Draft decisions of multiple players looming, it appears that the Buckeyes roster remains largely intact for the game.

Unfortunately for Mizzou, the same cannot be said, with the Tigers set to be without two key defenders, in defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper - both of whom are reportedly going to miss the game with injuries, per ESPN.

Rakestraw has been battling a groin injury since Week 4, and has been replaced in the lineup by the combination of Dreydon Norwood and Sidney Williams,

Hopper, meanwhile, suffered an ankle injury vs. Tennessee in Week 11. And while the Tigers were able to win that game without Hopper in the lineup, his lack of presence would be felt for the remainder of the season.

The following week against Florida, the Tigers allowed 500 yards of total offense, including 261 yards on the ground, with the Gators averaging 6.5 yards per carry, in Missouri's narrow 33-31 win.

Buckeyes vs. Mizzou Cotton Bowl: Biggest Key to a Win?

In fact, the Tigers only survived thanks to a 65-yard game-winning field goal from Harrison Mevis. Hopper has not played since the Tennessee win.

Whether or not new starting quarterback Devin Brown, who has thrown for just 197 yards with two touchdowns and an interception with a 54.5 percent completion percentage this season in limited action, remains to be seen.

Published Dec 23, 2023

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