The defense takes center stage, but the offense faces challenges as the Buckeyes maintain a narrow halftime lead against Mizzou.
The Ohio State Buckeyes entered the Cotton Bowl in Arlington with the aim of finishing the season on a positive note against the Missouri Tigers. However, despite holding a 3-0 lead at the end of the first half, the Buckeyes find themselves in a precarious situation.
The issues for the Buckeyes’ offense surfaced early in the game, with new starting quarterback Devin Brown struggling to find a rhythm. Following a three-and-out on the first possession, Brown managed to complete a couple of passes, but the offense failed to generate a substantial drive.
The situation worsened when Brown, who was already dealing with an early lower body injury, was forced out of the game after a sack on a third down. At the time of his injury, Brown had completed 4 of 6 passes for 20 yards.
True freshman backup Lincoln Kienholz stepped in for the next two drives, but the Buckeyes’ offensive struggles persisted. As a team, Ohio State has only mustered 76 total yards of offense, with 44 coming from 13 carries by TreVeyon Henderson.
The status of Brown’s return for the second half remains uncertain. Despite offensive challenges, the Buckeyes’ defense has performed well, limiting the typically explosive Missouri offense to just 112 total yards.
Even with a solid defensive showing, the outlook for the Buckeyes seems uncertain, especially if Brown is unable to return. Ohio State will kick off to start the second half after receiving the opening kick.
