Will Ohio State football’s Devin Brown start the Cotton Bowl, and is his ankle healthy?

Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown (33) said he is excited to make his first career start in the Cotton Bowl.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Forgive Ohio State football’s Devin Brown for getting caught up in the moment Wednesday.

Brown was not supposed to come right out and say he’s been told he’s starting the Cotton Bowl. Not that it classifies as a major revelation. The Buckeyes would not pass up such a major developmental opportunity by starting sixth-year Tristan Gebbia. True freshman Lincoln Keinholz, only on campus since July, might not be ready for success against Missouri — a top-10 team out of the SEC.

Brown, though, prepared all season as if he might need to start after losing the preseason competition to Kyle McCord. When McCord went into the transfer portal, Brown moved back to the top of the depth chart. Bummed to see his friend go, he also couldn’t contain his excitement for the opportunity ahead in Dallas on Dec. 29.

“I’m pumped,” Brown said. “I mean, I can’t believe my first start is going to be in the Cotton Bowl. It’s a big stage against a really good team. It’s a top-10 matchup. I’m just excited to go out there and show what I can do.”

Brown did disclose one important piece of information. He has returned to full participation after dealing with an ankle sprain through the second half of the season. He was still only a partial practice participant up through the regular season finale at Michigan.

He said he expected his goal-line package role to keep expanding prior to the injury.

“When it happened, it kind of caught me off guard,” Brown said. “It obviously hurt pretty good. Then I was just doing everything I could to come back.

“I was feeling really good, and then kind of re-tweaked it again in warmups. It was stupid. I just kind of got caught and twisted it weird. But there was never a thought of I’m gonna be out for the season. I felt like I was able to come back.

The Cotton Bowl start, though, will give him a chance to display all of the skills which made him a four-star, top-100 prospect in the 2022 class. Brown has taken the No. 1 offense reps in the few practices held since the end of the season. Kienholz has been with the 2s and Gebbia with the 3s.

“He’s been balling in bowl prep,” defensive back Jordan Hancock said. “He’s a real one.”

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