Ohio State’s recent loss to Michigan dealt a significant blow to their College Football Playoff aspirations, consigning them to a New Year’s Six bowl game instead. While this outcome was disappointing, head coach Ryan Day may be feeling an added layer of frustration due to recent developments in the team.
On a recent episode of Always College Football, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy pointed out that Day could be grappling with frustration following the news of starting quarterback Kyle McCord entering the transfer portal. With uncertainty surrounding the availability of standout receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State’s upcoming clash against Missouri may not be as straightforward as it seems.
McElroy explained, “Ryan Day has to be a little frustrated that Kyle McCord is in the transfer portal. Marvin Harrison Jr., not 100-percent sure that he’s going to be playing in the bowl game, but it looks like it’s going to be Devin Brown at quarterback.” He continued, “That is nice to know you at least have a guy that went the distance with McCord in the QB competition to fill in and is likely to be the guy in this particular spot.”
Despite these challenges, McElroy remains optimistic that key offensive weapons like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka will ultimately participate in the game. He emphasized, “Marvin Harrison, Emeka Egbuka, Cade Stover, will they all play? I would anticipate — I’m going to operate at least at the moment — that those guys will go.” McElroy highlighted Ohio State’s strong track record in attracting top-tier wide receiver talent and expressed curiosity about the team’s strategy against Missouri.
The 2023 season is shaping up to be a particularly frustrating one for the Buckeyes, marking the third consecutive year in which they achieved an 11-0 record only to falter against Michigan. However, with the Cotton Bowl on the horizon, there’s still an opportunity for Ohio State to finish the season on a strong note and showcase their resilience.