What Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz said about Tigers’ bowl game vs. Ohio State
Missouri football will always keep the receipts from this season.
“At the start of the year, there was a poll (asking if we’d) even make a bowl game,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said on Sunday. “Instead, we’re one of the top-10 teams in the country.”
That top-10 ranking has led to a berth in the Cotton Bowl, which will pit MU against the Big Ten’s Ohio State.
Here’s how Drinkwitz reacted to earning a bowl matchup against the No. 7 Buckeyes and what he said about the prestige of the game.
On the matchup with Ohio State
The Tigers came into Sunday with plenty of potential opportunities.
Maybe it was the Fiesta Bowl? Or the Peach Bowl? Maybe the Citrus Bowl? Drinkwitz knew there were many factors that were out of his control.
“We had six different plans in place going into this morning,” Drinkwitz said.
Now, Missouri will head to the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas.
The Tigers will play Ohio State for the first time since 1998, which was a game won by OSU, 35-14. The Buckeyes are 10-1 all-time against the Tigers.
Missouri’s only win over Ohio State was a 22-21 win over Woody Hayes’ Buckeyes back in 1976. This game provides a chance to beat a program that won a national title in 2014 and has been in a national championship game as recently as 2020.
“What a tremendous matchup with Ohio State,” Drinkwitz said. “It’s an awesome opportunity.”
On the Ohio State Buckeyes
Missouri will now face the Buckeyes, the No. 7 team in the country. OSU was two wins away from being in the College Football Playoff but fell to Michigan in The Game in the final week of the regular season.
Now, Ohio State gets Missouri. Ohio State is 2-10 all-time against SEC teams in bowl games.
Drinkwitz shared his massive respect for OSU coach Ryan Day on Sunday.
“I think he’s one of the elite coaches in college football, does a tremendous job offensively,” Drinkwitz said during a joint news conference with Ohio State. “He has one of those teams that I like to watch and just see what they’re doing, because I know they’re always on the cutting edge.”
The Tigers will have a huge test, and that’s especially true for the secondary. Projected NFL Draft picks Kris Abrams-Draine and Ennis Rakestraw will go up against projected NFL Draft picks Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka.
May the best team win.
“I’m sure most people will write us off,” Drinkwitz said. “We’ll embrace it.”
On the opportunity for the seniors
The Missouri football senior class has been through hard times. They endured last season’s trials. They came out on top.
“That doesn’t happen ... without a lot of hard work, a lot of belief and a lot of determination,” Drinkwitz said. “I’m thanking the seniors for making that happen.”
The seniors have a chance to punctuate one of the best seasons in Missouri history. A win over Ohio State would mean an 11-win season and likely top-7 finish in the final rankings.
The seniors led Missouri to this point and will be the ones that deliver Missouri to that peak.
“You play to win the game,” Drinkwitz said. “You play to provide momentum for the upcoming season. You play for the seniors.”
On the prestige of the Cotton Bowl
Earning a New Year’s Six bowl berth is a chance for Missouri to keep itself in the national conversation. Beating Georgia would’ve allowed Missouri to be in the playoff conversation.
That did not come to fruition. MU remained among the top teams in the nation, though.
“We’ve been fortunate to have the national spotlight from, really November,” Drinkwitz said. “This is just an opportunity to have a capstone.”
A win would keep Missouri in that spot for an entire offseason.
The Tigers have had recruiting success. A win over Ohio State would bring their momentum to a high peak. The Tigers can add to some highly rated prospects with some more talent.
That’s the opportunity on the table.
“You’re talking about a playoff-worthy team,” Drinkwitz said. “We’re going to have our hands full.”
The Star has partnered with the Columbia Daily Tribune for coverage of Missouri Tigers athletics.
