Ryan Day stresses need for Lincoln Kienholz to settle in for second half of Cotton Bowl

Entering Friday, Ryan Day planned on making the Cotton Bowl Devin Brown’s game. He took the reins as Ohio State’s starting quarterback after Kyle McCord transferred to Syracuse, getting his first start of his career.

However, in the first quarter, Brown hit the turf at AT&T Stadium and grabbed his leg. While he tried to go back out, Day ultimately had to put freshman Lincoln Kienholz into the game as Brown got treatment in the locker room and on the sidelines. Ohio State struggled after that, only taking 76 total yards into halftime as the Buckeyes held a 3-0 lead.

The key out of the break, according to Day, will be for Kienholz to settle in. It’s his third appearance as a Buckeye, although the last two came in blowout victories. Now, on the big stage, the freshman is being thrown into the deep end.

“We’ve got to see what we can do with Lincoln,” Day told ESPN’s Tom Luginbill. “We’ve got a young kid in there. He’s been inside his 10-yard line I think, maybe, three series in a row. Defense is playing well.

“We’ve got to find a way to get the thing out towards midfield. Had a chance to make a play on the third down, didn’t make that play. So we’ve just got to calm him down. … Defense is playing well. We’ve got to find some ways to get some first downs and get some points on the board.”

More on Devin Brown’s injury, Lincoln Kienholz’s entrance to the Cotton Bowl

Brown left the game with just over four minutes left in the first quarter. He stayed in the game for a few plays, but eventually started limping toward the sidelines while the Buckeyes lined up for a 4th and 3. Although TreVeyon Henderson was ready for the direct snap, Day called timeout and eventually kicked the field goal to make it a 3-0 Ohio State lead. While the Buckeyes defense ran back onto the field, Brown got his leg taped up on the sideline.

After Missouri punted, Brown came back onto the field with the Ohio State offense, still clearly limping as the Buckeyes ran a play before the end of the first quarter. He remained on the field for the rest of the series, but eventually headed back to the locker room. That’s when Lincoln Kienholz came in.

Brown lost the quarterback competition to McCord early in the year, but still made five appearances as part of some package plays. In that time, he threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns while adding 35 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on 19 attempts.