Ohio State’s postseason destination has been revealed, as the College Football Playoff announced Sunday that the seventh-ranked Buckeyes will match up with No. 9 Missouri in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, on Dec. 29 at 8 p.m.
The Buckeyes fell out of the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings after a loss to Michigan in Ohio State’s regular-season finale, with the Wolverines, Washington, Texas and Alabama at the top of the rankings with Florida State and Georgia as the first two teams out.
This will be Ohio State’s third appearance in the Cotton Bowl, with the others coming in 2017 and 1987, wins over USC and Texas A&M, respectively.
As for the Buckeyes’ opponent, Missouri finished 10-2 with ranked wins over Kentucky and Tennessee but suffered close losses to LSU and Georgia. The Tigers – led by quarterback Brady Cook, who has thrown for 3,189 yards and 20 touchdowns, and running back Cody Schrader, who has rushed for 1,499 yards and 13 touchdowns – average 34.1 points per game and allow 22.3 points per game.
Ohio State is 10-1-1 against Missouri, most recently playing a home-and-home series in 1997 and 1998. The Buckeyes have just a 5-13-1 record against teams currently in the SEC.
