Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Missouri Tigers (-3, 69 ½)
Heisman finalists clash
Two of this season’s best college football players will clash in the Cotton Bowl when Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden meet. Both Heisman Trophy finalists and will try to lead their teams to victory on New Year’s Day.
McFadden is the key to Arkansas’s Wild Hog offense and he rushed for 1,725 yards and 15 touchdowns in 12 games. He tied an SEC record with 321 rushing yards against South Carolina on Nov. 3 and he had nine 100-yard games overall.
Daniel, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, despite his relatively small stature. The 5-foot-11 junior threw for 4,170 yards and 33 touchdowns, and finished fourth in the Heisman voting.
His best game came on Nov. 24 against then-second-ranked Kansas, when he went 40-of-49 for 361 yards and three touchdown passes in the Tigers' 36-28 victory.
Petrino not involved
Recently appointed Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino will not be calling the plays against Missouri. Interim coach Reggie Herring will lead the Razorbacks for the final game of the season before handing the reigns over to Petrino in the New Year.
Petrino was announced as the Razorbacks’ new coach just hours after he stunned the Atlanta Falcons by handing in his resignation. He was an NFL coach for less than a year, but claims his heart was always in the college game.
He received a five-year deal worth $2.85 million per year to take over the program. Petrino replaces Houston Nutt, who departed for the Mississippi job at the end of the regular season.
Coffman to play
Missouri tight end Chase Coffman is back in practice and will play against Arkansas, despite continuing issues with his injured ankle. The junior has seen limited action since picking up the injury in the loss to Oklahoma on Oct. 13.
He underwent minor surgery just a few weeks ago to repair bone spurs in that ankle, and is likely to need further surgery after the Cotton Bowl.
"It's still a little bit weak," he told Columbia Missourian after his first practice back. "Just trying to get out there and doing as much as I can.”
Coffman is third on the team with 523 yards and seven touchdowns, but those numbers would likely have been much better if he stayed healthy. He is already being linked with a move to the NFL, but his teammates are eager to get him back for his final college season.
Tigers’ bowl disappointment
Missouri’s staff and players have found it hard to deal with the disappointment of not making one of the BCS bowls. They lost their final game of the season to Oklahoma, but were still considered unlucky not to make the Orange Bowl.
"That was a tough pill to swallow," senior wide receiver Will Franklin told the Columbia Tribune. "But if someone told us back in August we’d be 11-2 and going to the Cotton Bowl, we’d have been happy. We had a magical season, a historical season. We’re not going to take nothing back."
The Cotton Bowl will be Missouri’s first New Year’s Day bowl appearance since 1970. The team’s newfound success has led to speculation about the head coach Gary Pinkel’s future, but he was quick to pledge allegiance to the Tigers when asked this week.
"I’m staying at Missouri," he told the AP. "I’m very committed here. This is my mark.”