Urban Meyer shares what he’d tell Ryan Day, Ohio State before Cotton Bowl vs. Missouri

Urban Meyer has a bit of advice for Ryan Day and Ohio State before the Buckeyes take on Missouri in the Cotton Bowl.

It would seem based on the mood surrounding each program, Missouri feels great about its year and can end it with a bang. The Buckeyes lost to Michigan again and missed out on a Big Ten title and the College Football Playoff.

But, it’s a chance to finish 12-1 and put a stamp on a great season and to go out the right way.

“Everybody puts so much emphasis on that game (against Michigan),” Meyer said on Urban’s Take with Tim May. “But 11-1, I mean, you guys played your ass off. Find a way to get to 12-1. Empty the barrels, everything you possibly can do (in this game) … It’s in a great state in the Cotton Bowl. It’s a great city, Dallas, it is gonna be the biggest show on that evening. Empty the barrels man. I mean, find a way to win this game.” 

With Kyle McCord transferred out and now at Syracuse, Devin Brown is in line to start Friday night against the Tigers.

“You got a new quarterback that’s an athlete back there,” Meyer said. “Do as much spread offense as you can, let that kid run. Let that kid play and empty the barrels because Missouri … this will be you know, I’m sure the coach there and the players listen, if they win … it’ll be one of the biggest wins in program history.”

You could make the argument Missouri could play free and the pressure is on Ryan Day and Ohio State. The game should be pretty close, at least on paper. 

Day addressed the quarterback spot for their matchup with Missouri in Arlington during a press conference last week. While there might be a world where Lincoln Kienholz sees the field, their plan is for this to be the opportunity for Brown.

“I mean the plan is to play Devin,” Day said. “If the situation comes up to get Lincoln in the game? We would do that. But this is going to be Devin’s game to play.”

Brown, in his second collegiate year, was the other option for the starting job in Columbus coming into this season. In the end, though, McCord won the gig and went on to throw for over 3,100 yards, 24 touchdowns, and six interceptions.

As the backup, Brown went 12-22 for 197 yards, a pair of touchdowns, and one pick. He also got 19 carries on the year for 35 yards and another score.