ARLINGTON, Texas – The No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1, 8-2 Big Ten Conference) took the field for its final full practice of the season on Wednesday morning as they prepare for the 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day led the Buckeyes through a 90-minute workout at AT&T Stadium in anticipation of a nationally-televised primetime matchup against the No. 9 Missouri Tigers on Friday.

While Ohio State will stage a short walk-through on Thursday, Wednesday's practice marked the final full practice session of the 2023 season.

Ohio State is in a bowl game for the 11th-consecutive season and, officially, for the 22nd time in the past 24 years. The Buckeyes are making their third appearance at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. The Buckeyes are 2-0 in their previous appearances including a 28-12 win over Texas A&M in the 51st Classic in 1987 and a 24-7 win over USC in the 82nd Classic at the conclusion of the 2017 season. Ohio State also has fond memories of AT&T Stadium after winning the first College Football Playoff National Championship Game over Oregon at the venue in 2015.

When the Buckeyes take the field on Friday it will be sophomore quarterback Devin Brown taking the opening snap. Brown, who wears No. 33 in tribute to former TCU great and Pro Football Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh, will earn the first start of his career after the transfer portal departure of Kyle McCord.

Ironically, Brown's first collegiate start under center will take place in the same game Baugh helped launch more than 85 years ago. Baugh led TCU to a win over Marquette in the inaugural Classic played in 1937.

"Devin has been doing a great job," said Ohio State Offensive Coordinator Brian Hartline. "Obviously, he's in a different role currently than maybe he has been in all year, coming back off getting a little dinged up during the middle of the season. He was gaining a lot of momentum through the season.
 
"But he's having a great bowl prep. We're excited that he's out there. He brings a lot of good energy to practice. The guys are excited to have him running the show. But Devin has done a great job preparing for this game. He knows the importance and his work has resembled that."

Brown and the Buckeyes' offense will face a stiff test in a Missouri defense that has proven more than formidable in the Southeastern Conference this season.

"Yeah, they do a great job defensively," said Hartline. "I think that they're talented on the outside. They run really well, both guys (cornerbacks). One guy more heralded than the other, but I have a lot of respect for both frankly. I think our guys do, too.

"Anytime we get a chance to play a high-end defense that we get to play and go against really good DBs, it's a great opportunity for our guys to see what we're made of. I know our guys feel that way.

We also do a good job, I feel like, studying these guys. And so I'm not going to highlight or bring anything up that may not help us. But we have a good feel for them. We have a lot of respect for them, and our work has reflected that."

The 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is Friday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN and ESPN Radio. Kickoff is slated for 7:10 p.m.
 
This year's Classic is a part of the ESPN bowl lineup for the 10th straight year. Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek are set to the call the action from the booth with Tom Luginbill reporting from the sidelines.
 
ESPN Radio returns as the Classic's national radio partner for the tenth consecutive year with Brad Sham and Kirk Morrison in the booth and Taylor McGregor on the sidelines to describe all the action from AT&T Stadium.

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