DALLAS – The ninth-ranked Missouri Tigers arrived in North Texas Saturday to begin on-site preparations for the 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

The Tigers (10-2 overall, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) were the first team to arrive ahead of the Friday, December 29th matchup at 7 p.m. on ESPN against the seventh-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten Conference).

Missouri will make its fourth appearance in the Classic, its first since 2014. The Tigers have won their previous two appearances (41-31 over Oklahoma St. Jan 3, 2014; 38-7 over Arkansas Jan. 1, 2008) after falling in their initial contest (40-27 to Texas Jan. 1. 1946).

Missouri Head Coach Eliah Drinkwitz, the 2023 Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year, has led the Tigers to bowl games in each of his first four seasons at the helm. However, the impact of the magnitude of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic as well as the opponent, was apparent to Drinkwitz upon arrival.

"I want to extend a thank you to the Cotton Bowl staff and all the people that made our entrance very warm and welcoming," Drinkwitz said. "Obviously it's a big-time bowl game when the police escort has the block M and the Mizzou colors. So, very excited about the opportunity. I know our team is appreciative of all the hospitality that's going to be displayed this week. But more importantly, we are excited about playing this game. Obviously, a quality opponent in Ohio State and Coach [Ryan] Day. Know that they will be a tremendous challenge for us, and we look forward to preparing for that challenge throughout the week."

After posting a .500 record in each of the last three regular seasons, the Tigers were picked to finish 13th in the 14-team SEC this season. However, the veteran presence of Allen, Texas-native wide receiver Theo Wease Jr., who caught a touchdown pass while playing for Oklahoma in the 85th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, has been significant in Missouri's 2023 success.

"I believe I was just another leader that was added to the locker room, a great brotherhood," Wease said of his first season at Mizzou. "They brought me in. They showed me the ropes, and we just stuck together. I really give all the credit to the team. Like, I am my own person, of course. I am my own leader, of course, and I brought something different to the team. But it was the brotherhood that really just made everything fall into place."

With the motto "Something To Prove" being the team mantra this season, to the grand arrival in North Texas, Missouri has a final opportunity to put a large exclamation point on its magical season in the 88th Classic.

"Yeah, I mean, every game that we play in is big," Drinkwitz said. "That's the 1-0 mindset. That's the 1- 0 mentality. So, we're not really trying to frame it any other way than that. Obviously, it's a great opportunity for us to play on ESPN and a national audience. But for us, in order to be 1- 0, there's a lot of things that have to take place, starting with our fundamentals this week, our practice habits, the way we conduct ourselves this week."

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