The Cotton Bowl might spell trouble for the Ohio State Buckeyes following the first half of play. Despite holding a 3-0 lead against the Missouri Tigers, the Buckeyes seem to be facing significant challenges.
Right from the onset, the Buckeyes’ offense faced difficulties as new starting quarterback Devin Brown struggled to find a rhythm. Although he managed a couple of completions after an initial three-and-out, the offense couldn’t establish a solid drive. Brown’s woes compounded when he suffered an early lower body injury and was eventually forced out of the game after a sack on third down, having completed 4 of 6 passes for 20 yards.
The true freshman backup, Lincoln Kienholz, stepped in for Brown but failed to ignite the Buckeyes’ offense on subsequent drives. The team as a whole struggled offensively, garnering only 76 yards, with a significant portion—44 yards—coming from TreVeyon Henderson’s 13 carries.
As uncertainties loom about Brown’s return for the second half, the Buckeyes rely on their defense, which has contained the typically high-powered Missouri offense to just 112 total yards.
Despite this, if Brown remains sidelined, the Buckeyes face an uphill battle for the remainder of the game. Ohio State will kick off to start the second half, hoping to reverse their offensive struggles.
