Eli Drinkwitz cracks Connor Stalions joke ahead of Cotton Bowl vs. Ohio State

Missouri has earned the opportunity to play Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29, it was revealed on Sunday.

Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz joined ESPN’s College Football Playoff selection show to discuss Missouri’s upcoming matchup — but before he signed off, cracked a joke that popped everyone inside ESPN’s studios regarding his team’s opponent.

“Hey guys, I’ve got a quick phone call,” Drinkwitz told Rece Davis. “Connor Stalions beeping in here I’m trying to get a few signals here. I’ve got to go, but as soon as we get done I look forward to competing against Ryan Day and we’ll go from there.”

🚨Eliah Drinkwitz with a Connor Stalions joke on ESPN!!!🚨 lol pic.twitter.com/EzHo46EidG

— Video from: @TSV__1 (@TSV__1) December 3, 2023

Connor Stalions is a former Michigan staffer that has been outed as the main perpetrator in the Wolverines’ sign-stealing controversy. He has been accused of purchasing dozens of tickets for games of upcoming Michigan opponents and videoing that team’s sideline for the duration of the game.

Specifically, Stalions allegedly bought tickets to four different campus games of four College Football Playoff contenders last year. Additionally, there are records of SEC title game ticket purchases from 2021 and 2022. Finally, twelve of the other 13 Big Ten schools have record of Stalions buying tickets. Stalions reportedly did not cooperate with any internal or external investigations or discussions and was later fired by the football program amid the controversy.

It’s safe to say Stalions might know a thing or two about the Buckeyes’ play calls, and it got a good laugh out of the ESPN crew during a rather tense College Football Playoff selection Sunday.

Cotton Bowl point spread released

On Dec. 29, Ohio State will square off against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. According to FanDuel, OSU is a 6.5-point favorite in the outing. The over/under for the matchup is set at 51.5 points. On3’s Grant Grubbs has provided everything that you need to know about the matchup:

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.

For Missouri, its success — which has resulted in a 10-2 record — is largely thanks to their standout skill players, highlighted by running back Cody Schrader. The 5-foot-9 graduate student finished the regular season with 1,499 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Schrader’s 124.9 rushing yards per game are the most in the country this year.