MIZZOU TIGERS AT AT&T | Tigers hold first practice for Friday’s Goodyear Cotton Bowl
From Special Reports
The No. 9 Missouri Tigers (10-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) held a Christmas Day practice Monday in continued preparation for the 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
The Tigers will face the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten Conference) Friday night at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
In the spirit of the season, Missouri began the day as a Tiger family celebrating before getting down to the business of the day.
“This morning, we sang Christmas carols, we opened gifts, and then we celebrated Toughness Tuesday,” said Tigers head coach Eliah Drinkwitz of Missouri’s theme for a usual Tuesday practice. “We ran inside drill (a staple of a usual Tuesday practice) and it’s a real privilege. Today is one of those “get-to” days that you get to practice, you get to be at the Cotton Bowl, and I think our guys really responded well to that.”
Typically the most physical day of the practice week during the season, the Tigers intensity elevated during the afternoon session.
“Today was all about speed and fundamentals,” Drinkwitz said. “Playing with game speed and playing with game fundamentals. I’m sure we’ll see some things on tape, but the guys are acclimating the way you want them to.”
With Friday’s gameday steadily approaching, Drinkwitz likes where his team is while acknowledging the challenge and opportunity that awaits.
“I feel like today’s energy was really good,” Drinkwitz said. “Obviously we’ll find out Friday. Ohio State is a really good football team.”
The 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is Friday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN and ESPN Radio. Kickoff is slated for 7:10 p.m. And ETBlitz.com will be there, with two photographers (Alex Nabor and Jenna Lucas), a story by Mitch Lucas, and a column by Joe Hale.
This year’s Classic is a part of the ESPN bowl lineup for the 10th straight year. Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek are set to the call the action from the booth with Tom Luginbill reporting from the sidelines.
ESPN Radio returns as the Classic’s national radio partner for the tenth consecutive year with Brad Sham and Kirk Morrison in the booth and Taylor McGregor on the sidelines to describe all the action from AT&T Stadium.
Follow the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and TikTok.
Missouri football players arrive at AT&T Stadium in preparation for Friday’s Goodyear Cotton Bowl, a 7 p.m. kickoff on ESPN against Ohio State.