Marvin Harrison Jr., Tommy Eichenberg Headline Group of Inactive Buckeyes in Cotton Bowl

The Ohio State Buckeyes will be without their best offensive and defensive players in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Tommy Eichenberg vs. the Missouri Tigers in the Cotton Bowl

Matt Galatzan | Dec 29, 2023

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Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes are looking to end the season with some momentum and help springboard their national championship hopes in 2024 with a win in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.

Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they'll have to do it without arguably their two best players, with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Tommy Eichenberg both inactive for the game.

Harrison Jr. and Eichenberg are both sure bets to high NFL Draft picks this spring and with that decision looming, it is likely a sign that both will be foregoing the 2024 season to go pro.

Marvin Harrison Jr Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Harrison Jr. in particular has as chance to be a top-5 (or perhaps even top-2) pick in the draft, making a decision as to whether or not to go pro essentially a no-brainer.

As such, it goes without saying that risking an injury for a bowl that is not a playoff game is an easy decision for the Buckeyes' star wideout.

Should this indeed be the final game for Harrison Jr., he will end his Buckeyes career with 155 catches for 2,613 yards and 31 touchdowns, and as arguably the best receiver to ever step foot on the field for the Buckeyes.

This season alone, Harrison Jr. had 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 scores.

Eichenberg, should he also go to the NFL, will leave Colombus as one of the top linebackers in program history with 266 total tackles and 3.5 sacks.

You can view the full list of Buckeyes who will miss the Cotton Bowl below:

WR Nolan Baudo

LB Tommy Eichenberg

WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

TE Zak Herbstreit (season)

SAF Lathan Ransom

WR Reis Stocksdale (season)

OL Miles Walker

LB Kourt Williams II (season)

RB Miyan Williams (season)

Published Dec 29, 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