Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka, Denzel Burke announce plans to play in Cotton Bowl vs. Mizzou
On Tuesday, Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and cornerback Denzel Burke revealed whether they will be playing in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri. OSU associate AD for communications Jerry Emig reported the news.
“Great news! WR Emeka Egbuka and CB Denzel Burke both announced today during interviews at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center that they will be playing in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl against Missouri,” Emig wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Ohio State will need all the help it can find. The Buckeyes lost starting quarterback Kyle McCord to the transfer portal. Consequently, OSU will likely start second-year quarterback Devin Brown in the massive matchup.
Egbuka’s decision to play is particularly interesting. The junior wide receiver finished the 2023 regular season with 35 receptions for 452 yards and four touchdowns. Egbuka took a significant step back this season in offensive production after tallying over 1,100 receiving yards last year.
With an NFL Draft decision looming over Egbuka’s head, the decision to play points toward hope for a return. The Buckeyes will square off against Missouri at 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 29 in the prestigious Cotton Bowl. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
More on the Cotton Bowl
Ohio State’s CFP chances came down to one game, and the Buckeyes didn’t come out on top. However, a six-point loss to the No. 1 overall seed in the CFP doesn’t make a team bad. In fact, it only proves how fearsome Ohio State is. In an 11-1 regular season, Ohio State had a 21.3-point average margin of victory, the fourth-biggest in the country.
The team has no shortage of standouts, headlined by wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.Harrison finished the regular season with 67 receptions for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also recorded a rushing score this season. OSU head coach Ryan Day knows with such talent by his side, the Buckeyes are one of the best teams in the country.
“We have a very good team. We came up short today and it’s devastating. But I believe in our players,” Day said following the loss to Michigan. “I think we have a veteran team. I think we have a team that is solid in all three phases…I do believe this team can play with anybody in the country.”
Ohio State and Missouri have met 12 times before. Ohio State boasts a dominant 10-1-1 record over the Tigers. OSU won the last matchup between the two teams 35-14 in 1998.