Ohio State Made Unfortunate History in Cotton Bowl

The Ohio State Buckeyes had their worst offensive performance in eight years on Friday night in the Cotton Bowl loss to Missouri.

Friday night was a night to forget for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

It was an unceremonious end to an otherwise successful season in many respects... that much is for certain. 

But in Ohio State's 14-3 loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl, the Buckeyes put in their worst offensive performance in nearly a decade, and their first game without a touchdown since they were shut out in the 2016 College Football Playoff semi-final by Clemson.

The offense also totaled just 203 total yards of offense, and just 106 through the air - both lowest totals since 2022 vs. Northwestern in a 21-7 win.  

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In fact, per OptaStats, the 17 combined points between Missouri and Ohio State is the lowest total between two AP Top 10 teams in a bowl game since the 2001 national title game when Oklahoma beat Florida State 13-2 at the Orange Bowl.

Not ideal.

To be fair, the Buckeyes entered the game without their best offensive player Marvin Harrison Jr., who opted out of the game almost certainly in preparation for the NFL Draft.

They were also without their starting quarterback Kyle McCord, after he shockingly entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after the conclusion of the regular season.

Still, the Buckeyes returned nearly every other offensive starter, and they had a quarterback who nearly beat McCord for the starting job in the offseason. 

Even before Brown went down with a high ankle sprain in the first half, things looked to be lost from the start for the offense. And once Lincoln Kienholz entered the fray, things began to spiral.

Ohio State Falls Flat In Cotton Bowl Loss to Missouri

But now, an offseason that looked hopeful before Friday night, looks like it could be the most critical one head coach Ryan Day has faced in his tenure in Colombus, with an abundance of questions surrounding the program. 

Most notably, who will start under center vs. Akron, and who they can find to help mitigate the loss of Marvin Harrison Jr. next fall?

Typically, Ohio State is able to reload from within. And the incoming class with Air Noland at QB and Jeremiah Smith at receiver will go a long way in helping fill those holes. 

But given what we saw on Friday night, the Buckeyes are going to need a lot more help than two true freshmen will likely be equipped to provide.