Eli Drinkwitz describes the feeling of Missouri being in a New Year's Six bowl

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz understands what making a New Year’s Six Bowl represents for the football program. Coming off of a 10-2 finish to the regular season, the Tigers will face Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl in what is their first NY6 appearance since the 2013 season.

It is the third straight season the Tigers have reached a bowl game under Drinkwitz, who is in his fourth year at the helm. Speaking in front of media for the first time since learning of the news, the Mizzou put into perspective how special it is considering the team’s preseason expectations.

“It’s just a remarkable feeling,” he said. “At the start of the year, there was a poll about would we even make a bowl game. Instead we’re a top 10 team in the country that’s going to a New Year’s Six Bowl game. That doesn’t happen without a lot of hard work, a lot of belief and a lot of determination. I’m thanking the seniors for making it happen.”

Mizzou was picked to finish sixth in the SEC East this preseason ahead of only Vanderbilt, a team that ultimately ended the year without a conference win. The Tigers ended up second in the division behind only Georgia. They even gave the Bulldogs a scare when they faced off this season before ultimately falling 30-21.

Missouri has lost each of its past two bowl games, but will aim to prove it can again battle with the best against a talented Buckeyes team. Ohio State will be without starting quarterback Kyle McCord, who entered the transfer portal this week.

The Tigers last appearance in the Cotton Bowl went well, as they defeated Oklahoma State by a score of 41-31. Running back Henry Josey earned the MVP of that game after rushing for three touchdowns, and Missouri could again lean on the ground game this year.

Tigers running back Cody Schrader finished as the SEC’s leading rusher with 1,489 yards in addition to 13 touchdowns. He has rushed for at least 100 yards in five consecutive games, including breaking the 200-yard barrier twice in that span.

Missouri also has a solid passing game with Brady Cook at quarterback and a pair of explosive receivers in Luther Burden and Theo Wease. Still, the offense faces a big test against an Ohio State squad that finished second in the country in scoring defense with just 11.0 points allowed per game.

Either way, it’s been a season with plenty to be proud of for Missouri. The Tigers will aim to make it even more worthy of celebrating when the Cotton Bowl kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 29.