2023-24 Cotton Bowl Athletic Association Year in Review

“Just want to express our appreciation for being included in the 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. It’s been an unbelievable event. It starts first with people, and the people associated with the Cotton Bowl Classic have been incredible at taking care of our needs, going above and beyond, especially around the holidays where they have made our families and players feel the warmth of the holidays here in Texas. It’s been a great celebration and culmination of the season.”

“

ELIAH DRINKWITZ

HEAD COACH | MISSOURI

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TV viewership ranked fifth among the 43 postseason games played, including the CFP National Championship. The Classic also ranked fourth in attendance.

9.7M +70K

Missouri quarterback Brady Cook

Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown

CBAA Chair Dave Brown presides over postgame trophy presentation.

88TH CLASSIC BY THE NUMBERS

The 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic was truly #LikeNoOther. The game may have been low on statistics, but the matchup was high on intrigue.

Streaming Numbers

The 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic was the third-most streamed college football game ever on ESPN+ behind the 2023 Capital One Orange Bowl between Georgia and Florida State and the 2024 CFP National Championship between Michigan and Washington.

Missouri’s victory over Ohio State marked the program’s first win in a New Year’s Six bowl game in the College Football Playoff era. The win moved the Tigers’ Cotton Bowl Classic record to 3-1 with triumphs in the 72nd Classic in 2008 over Arkansas and 78th Classic in 2014 over Oklahoma State.

Missouri clinched its first 11-win season since 2014 and fourth in program history.

Points at a Premium Rushing to a Record

The 17 total points in Missouri’s 14-3 victory over Ohio State combined for the fewest points in a New Year’s Six bowl game. The previous record was 28 combined points by Baylor and Ole Miss in the 2022 Sugar Bowl.

The intriguing part of this record-low point total? It marked the first time during the season that Missouri trailed at halftime (down 3-0) and the first time under head coach Eliah Drinkwitz that the Tigers did not score in the game’s first 30 minutes.

Milestone Win Defensive Battle Streaking

Missouri scored two second-half touchdowns in the win – the team’s two trips to the red zone during the game. Crossing into the end zone on both trips extended the Tigers’ red zone scoring streak to 52 conversions in a row. For the 2023 season, Missouri converted on an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivisionbest 56-of-57 scoring opportunities inside the opposition’s 20-yard line.

Missouri senior running back Cody Schrader set the school’s single-season rushing yards record with 128 yards on the ground against Ohio State. He closed his senior campaign with 1,627 rushing yards, eclipsing the previous record of 1,604 rushing yards by Tyler Badie in 2021.

The 88th Classic was the textbook definition of a defensive battle. Missouri garnered 10 tacklesfor loss, eight quarterback hurries, four sacks, and forced two fumbles. Ohio State recorded eight tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, and six sacks.

2023 GAME SUMMARY

Offense was in short supply in the 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic until the No. 9 Missouri Tigers caught fire midway through the second half and walked away with a 14-3 victory over the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes in front of a crowd of 70,114 at AT&T Stadium.

The Tigers (11-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) mounted two scoring drives of 90-plus yards in the second half to hold off the Buckeyes and secure the program’s first win in a New Year’s Six bowl game.

Ohio State (11-2, 8-1 Big Ten Conference) led 3-0 deep into the third quarter and for a while it looked like sophomore placekicker Jayden Fielding’s 44-yard field goal would be enough.

Despite being shut out for three quarters, Missouri finally found a spark when junior quarterback Brady Cook connected with freshman wide receiver Marquis Johnson for a 50-yard completion down the left sideline.

11-of-18 passing for 128 yards, 1 touchdown

19 rushes for 66 yards

The pass flipped the field on a drive that started at the Missouri five-yard line and put the Tigers at the Ohio State 15-yard line.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Missouri senior running back Cody Schrader scored on a seven-yard burst up the middle, carrying two Buckeyes with him into the end zone. The icebreaking drive covered 95 yards in eight plays.

The second touchdown drive drained 6:10 off the clock, leaving Ohio State only 5:12 to mount a comeback. The Buckeyes’ attempt to rally ended when Missouri sophomore defensive back Daylan Carnell jarred the ball loose from Ohio State freshman quarterback Lincoln Kienholz and junior defensive end Joe Moore III recovered the loose ball for the Tigers.

2 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss of 8 yards, 1 sack

J. Curtis Sanford Offensive MVP

Felix McKnight Defensive MVP

BRADY COOK

QUARTERBACK MISSOURI

JOHNNY WALKER JR.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN MISSOURI

ECONOMIC IMPACT

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is one of the largest economic impact generators for annual events in North Texas. In a report created by Highland Market Research, LLC, the Classic generates close to $54 million in direct economic impact and $45 million in indirect economic impact on an annual basis.

$54M $45M

Direct Impact

Indirect Impact

STADIUM SIGNAGE

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic’s creative campaign, developed by Dallas-based agency Medium Giant, built upon the established #LikeNoOther platform. A central element of the campaign was the use of a light trail gradient. This dynamic element wasn’t just visually striking, it served a narrative purpose. The light trail interacted with player images, stadium architecture, and even the Field Scovell Trophy, creating a visual timeline. This innovative approach allowed the year’s competing teams to seamlessly integrate into the Classic’s rich heritage. Additionally, the light trail featured sharp line breaks, reminiscent of car speed lights – a subtle yet impactful nod to the title sponsor, Goodyear. This integrated element ran throughout all campaign materials, from advertising and marketing to social media, printed materials, digital signage and even the in-game presentations at AT&T Stadium.

2023 CREATIVE CAMPAIGN CAMPAIGN

Street Pole Banners

East Plaza

East Plaza

East Plaza TexasLive! TexasLive!

West Plaza

West Plaza

West Plaza Toyota Music Factory

BOWL WEEK EVENTS

ONLINE PRESENCE

GoodyearCottonBowl.com

The digital home of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, GoodyearCottonBowl.com, saw marked growth in the key analytics during the calendar year of 2023.

270.3K 359.0K 580.5K Users Sessions Page Views

GameDay.GoodyearCottonBowl.com

For the third year in a row, the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic offered a digital game day guide as the one stop for ticket information, bowl week events and game day maps. More than 37,500 unique users experienced the site during the year, which included more than 26,000 unique users checking out the site during the month of December leading up to the 88th Classic.

CottonBowlFoundation.org

The digital home of the Cotton Bowl Foundation provided an integrated platform to showcase the initiatives of the official foundation of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic through its grants program, collaborations with the College Football Playoff Foundation and area food banks, support of the Kilgore College Rangerettes and work in the North Texas community.

Cotton Bowl Classic Mobile App

The Cotton Bowl Classic Mobile App, available on iOS and Android devices, continued to be a reliable source to consume information related to the 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic – from access to tickets and parking passes via SeatGeek to details about the game and related event and activities –and stay connected on the go with the Classic’s social media platforms.

MappedIn Mapping Service

This year, the Cotton Bowl Classic partnered with the Dallas Cowboys and AT&T Stadium to create an interactive map of AT&T Stadium to empower fans attending the 88th Classic to find their way easily around the stadium. The digital map was promoted via social media, the Classic mobile app and websites to create a better experience for visitors at AT&T Stadium.

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS

The social media presence for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and Cotton Bowl Foundation continued to grow and evolve in key metrics across multiple platforms.

Media Mentions

The media mentions for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic experienced notable growth in 2023 with 5,400 total mentions, an impressive 230 percent increase over the previous year.

The Classic’s brand sentiment across media mentions also improved by 4 points to an overall positive sentiment to 95 percent.

1,124

2022 2023 +/Total Posts

2,145 +89.2%

Followers

2023 saw the number of followers increase across all five platforms over the previous year.

Hashtags

Across tracked sources, the primary hashtags of #LikeNoOther and #GoodyearCottonBowl garnered significant increases in mentions across the entire year and the comparable month-plus stretch leading up to and through the 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

2023

#LikeNoOther

21.30K +600%

#GoodyearCottonBowl 7.25K +531%

Bowl Month (December 1-January 4)

#LikeNoOther

2.91K +3,286%

#GoodyearCottonBowl

5.00K +379%

SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN

Social Media Strategy

The year-long social media strategy for 2023 built on the foundational pillars of Promote the Game, Capture Nostalgia, Participate in Conversation and Partnerships & Community. The content distributed across platforms continued to focus on seasonal themes to keep the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and Cotton Bowl Foundation relevant throughout the year. Interactive opportunities to engage with followers as well as jumping in on fun and trending content were integrated into the content plan to round out a diverse approach to grow across platforms.

Keeping Up with Trends

The diverse content approach to promote the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and Cotton Bowl Foundation included continuing to grow its youngest social media platform as well as adding content elements to certain platforms to keep up with the engagement trends. The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic channel on GIPHY (GIPHY. com/CottonBowlClassic) continued to experience astounding growth with 544.4 million GIF and sticker views in 2023 and 402.4 million GIF and sticker views during bowl month (December 1-January 4). The Classic leaned into content trends posting more exclusive video content on TikTok and via reels and stories on Instagram.

Engaging Influencers

An evolving aspect of the social media strategy during the bowl month and on game day for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic included partnerships with social media influencers for the second-straight year. The Classic created a partnership with DallasSites to promote the game and fan-centric events across the popular platform that has a huge presence in North Texas and Austin. On game day, The Classic engaged with North Texas-area influencers to enjoy the game up close and comment about their experiences across their respective platforms.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic YouTube Channel

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic YouTube Channel continued to be a priority platform among the social media content offerings throughout the year. The playlist for the 88th Classic features 33 videos that tell the visual journey of bowl season from the teams being selected for the game to a recap of the bowl week experience. Cross-promoting the channel to spark engagement was a particular focus to drive views of live and on-demand content.

SOCIAL MEDIA BY THE NUMBERS

The social media metrics, both from yearly and 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic bowl month comparisons, saw notable increases across the key measurables.

Bowl Month (December 1-January 4)

All Social Channels

Instagram

TikTok

Linkedin

437

POSTS

214 947K 3.72M

ENGAGEMENTS FOLLOWERS

2023 (January 1-December 31)

310,764 208

97,718

IMPRESSIONS REACH IMPRESSIONS VIEWS POSTS

11,687

5,826

POSTS

INTERACTIONS PROFILE VIEWS CLICKS LIKES

3,569 REACTIONS

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

The year-round distribution strategy for the Cotton Bowl Connection newsletter held steady with monthly editions from January to August and weekly installments through the heart of the college football season from September to December.

27

NEWSLETTERS SENT

7.8K 15.2K +4% +2%

162.9K 39.6%

OPENS AVG. OPEN RATE

In October, the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic earned a gold recognition as the Best Annual Sports Event for the second consecutive year from The Dallas Morning News as a part of its 2023 Best in DFW Awards.

The annual awards competition is voted on by residents across the Dallas-Fort Worth footprint. The Classic earned gold in the Best Annual Sports Event subcategory under the Things to Do category ahead of the AT&T Byron Nelson Classic.

FWAA ALL-AMERICA TEAM

For the fifth consecutive year, the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic partnered with the Football Writers Association of America to unveil the FWAA All-America Team. The 2023 team was headlined by nine first teamers from the four teams that competed in the College Football Playoff, three repeat All-Americans and a record 16 total selections from the Big Ten Conference.

“The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is proud of our partnership with the FWAA and what we do together to promote one of the most prestigious All-America teams in college football,” said Dave Brown, Chair, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association and Cotton Bowl Foundation. “We congratulate these student-athletes for their outstanding play on the field this season and celebrate their impact on the game that so many of us love and enjoy.”

The Cotton Bowl created commemorative footballs that were distributed to all players on the first and second team. Each winner also received a certificate. The FWAA All-America Team was promoted via a press release, a social media campaign and as part of the in-game center-hung scoreboard production at the 88th Classic.

COTTON IN THE COMMUNITY

Making an impact that is felt for years to come remains at the forefront of the philanthropic direction of the Cotton Bowl Foundation.

The official foundation of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic continues its mission to impact those who play the game, attend the game and support the game of football. From its grants program to the College Football Playoff Foundation Big Day for Teachers to North Texas Giving Day, the Foundation has supported a diverse collection of organizations and initiatives striving to uplift the North Texas community and beyond over the past year.

Since 2016, the Cotton Bowl Foundation has awarded more than $3 million in grants and financial support benefiting nonprofit organizations in the surrounding communities.

CFP FOUNDATION’S BIG DAY

The Cotton Bowl Foundation and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic teamed up with the College Football Playoff Foundation to honor the past and amplify the present and future on September 19th at the Mount Auburn STEAM Academy in east Dallas. In celebration of the tenth anniversary of Extra Yard For Teachers, the organizations surprised teachers to show appreciation for their hard work and dedication in the classroom.

The pep rally and presentations at Mount Auburn came on the Big Day for Teachers, the largest single-day effort of community impact across college football, as a part of this year’s Extra Yard for Teachers Week.

During the presentation that featured 1987 Heisman Trophy winner, 2009 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Cotton Bowl Classic and Mount Auburn alum Tim Brown, the Cotton Bowl Foundation and CFP Foundation awarded grants totaling $200,000 ($50,000 each) to Catch Up & Read, City Teaching Alliance, The Educator Collective and United to Learn.

The presentations did not end there. Representatives from the Cotton Bowl Foundation, Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and CFP Foundation went into the classroom of Michelle Reyes, a first-year art teacher at Mount Auburn, and surprised her with a $1,000 Donors-Choose gift card, a Cotton Bowl Classic backpack filled with gifts and two tickets to the 88th Classic.

COTTON BOWL FOUNDATION GRANTS RECIPIENTS

In its signature giving opportunity of the year, the Cotton Bowl Foundation distributed $285,000 in grants to a diverse collection of organizations striving to uplift the North Texas community as a part of its 2023-24 grants initiative. The six organizations extended 2023-24 grants were Girls Inc. of Tarrant County ($100,000), Communities in Schools of Greater Tarrant County ($50,000), Communities in Schools of the Dallas Region ($50,000), Big Thought ($50,000), AT LAST! ($25,000) and HOPE Tutoring Center ($10,000).

CBAA staff, Board of Directors and Council members traveled around the Dallas-Fort Worth area throughout the month of February to present the inaugural Cotton Bowl Foundation Community Champion Award to each of the six organizations and learn more about the great work that these nonprofits are doing to positively impact children and families in communities across North Texas and beyond. The Community Champion Award was created in a similar style as the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic’s J. Curtis Sanford (Offensive Most Valuable Player) and Felix R. McKnight (Defensive Most Valuable Player) trophies.

Girls Inc. of Tarrant County

$100,000

Girls Inc. of Tarrant County used its grant to reinforce the organization’s programs that encourage health, education, career readiness and independence and inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold.

Communities in Schools of Greater Tarrant County $50,000

The grant extended to Communities in Schools of Greater Tarrant County was put toward supporting its stay-in-school program that serves 65 schools across 11 school districts and gives students the resources needed to be successful in school and stay on the path to graduation.

Communities in Schools of the Dallas Region

$50,000

Communities in Schools of the Dallas Region used its grant to impact a total of 130 elementary, middle school and high school campuses with four main components of service–academics, behavior/mental health, social services and attendance–delivered to students in coordinated, caring and individualized ways.

Big Thought $50,000

The grant awarded to Big Thought was used to close the opportunity gap for all youth in marginalized communities by preparing them for further education, work and life and giving them the skills and tools they need to imagine and create their best lives and a better world.

AT LAST! $25,000

AT LAST! earmarked its grant to aid with the upkeep of its 5,700 square-foot residence that houses up to16 ‘Scholars-In-Residence’ and provides these students from less prosperous families with academic support, technology resources, life skill instruction, meals and necessities to put them in position for better performance in the classroom.

GIVING BEYOND GRANTS

HOPE Tutoring Center $10,000

The grant given to the HOPE Tutoring Center was used to reinforce its free, individualized tutoring for students ranging from second to eighth grade in the Arlington community.

As a part of the Cotton Bowl Foundation’s philanthropic pursuits this year, the official foundation for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic donated dollars beyond its grants initiative that will change lives for years to come in North Texas and across the country.

The Foundation also extended donations of $75,000 to Penn State to create the Wally Triplett- Cotton Bowl Football Player Development Program and $20,000 ($10,000 each) to Tarrant Area Food Bank and North Texas Food Bank along with the record-amount raised for the 25th Cotton Bowl Classic Art Contest on North Texas Giving Day and $200,000 in partnership with the College Football Playoff Foundation on the Big Day for Teachers.

This year alone, the Cotton Bowl Foundation awarded nearly $575,000 in grants to deserving organizations that strive to make a difference for our region.

NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY

The Cotton Bowl Foundation enjoyed a record-setting campaign for North Texas Giving Day 2023, raising an alltime high of $92,750 to support the 25th anniversary of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Art Contest.

The dollar amount raised came from 57 donors, including $25,000 matching grants each from Amazon and the College Football Playoff Foundation. Amazon, the presenting sponsor of North Texas Giving Day, surprised the official foundation of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on the actual day of giving (September 21) live on WFAATV’s Daybreak with an additional $10,000 donation.

The Cotton Bowl Foundation’s strong North Texas Giving Day campaign was a part of another landmark one for the Communities Foundation of Texas, which saw $63.9 million raised by 97,000+ donors for 3,249 nonprofits.

TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK MEGA MOBILE MARKET

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and Tarrant Area Food Bank partnered up once again with several community partners to host its fourth Thanksgiving Mega Mobile Market on November 17 at AT&T Stadium.

An ideal fall morning was the backdrop for an opportunity to distribute Thanksgiving-related meals to 5,000 families. In total, 350,000 pounds of food and 292,000 meals were distributed in Tarrant Area Food Bank’s largest mass food distribution event of the year. Each box of nutritious food per family included a turkey or chicken, pantry items such as green beans and stuffing, fresh produce and other non-perishable items needed to complete a holiday meal.

This year’s event featured a special presentation as the Cotton Bowl Foundation and longtime Classic partner American Airlines each gave $10,000 to Tarrant Area Food Bank. The $20,000 donation is earmarked to support TAFB’s mission to alleviate hunger and improve health across its 13-county service area.

The Cotton Bowl Classic and Tarrant Area Food Bank once again captained a team of community partners that included support from AT&T Stadium and the Dallas Cowboys, American Airlines with 300 staff members working the distribution lines and the Arlington Police and Fire departments managing and aiding with the event logistics for the four-hour event. The protein and portions of the food distributed were secured by the collective efforts of the MW Cares Foundation and MW Logistics, Albertsons/Tom Thumb and The Big Good, the charity organization created by legendary college football coach Gary Patterson and Grammy Award-winning R&B artist and Fort Worth native Leon Bridges.

Whataburger donated burgers and chicken sandwiches and Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic partner TicketEStore provided chips and beverages for the more than 400 volunteers on hand and KLTY Radio filled the air with uplifting music throughout the event.

This year’s Mega Mobile Market marked the fourth straight year that Tarrant Area Food Bank and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic teamed up to host a holiday distribution event and the fifth time the two organizations have collaborated to lead mass distribution events at AT&T Stadium. The five Mega Mobile Markets at AT&T Stadium (November 2020, May 2021, November 2021, November 2022 and November 2023) have combined to provide food to more than 23,300 families.

In addition to supporting Tarrant Area Food Bank, the Cotton Bowl Foundation extended a $10,000 donation to North Texas Food Bank to support its network of nearly 500 partner agencies and organizations across 13 counties.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES

The Cotton Bowl Athletic Association continued in its mission to be a champion for change in the fight against systemic racism and discrimination in the quest for equity and social justice for all through its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives.

Wally Triplett-Cotton Bowl Football Player Development Program

The CBAA and Cotton Bowl Foundation presented a $75,000 endowed gift to Penn State to help fund the creation of the Wally Triplett-Cotton Bowl Football Player Development Program in honor of the 75th anniversary of Triplett and Dennie Hoggard being the first two Black players to play in the Cotton Bowl Classic. The on-field presentation took place during the Nittany Lions’ Senior Day game against Rutgers on November 18, 2023.

The endowment is being utilized to enrich the experience of Penn State football student-athletes, inspired by the legacy of Wally Triplett, in the areas of career development, alumni networking, community service and educational sessions featuring influential speakers and business leaders. The program created by these funds will create experiences like no other for these student-athletes to help them succeed on the field, in the classroom and in life after college.

Fred McClure Internship Program

The CBAA Fred McClure Internship Program welcomed two interns for the 2023-24 academic year – Makyle Sanders, a Tyler, Texas, native and University of North Texas graduate, and John Womack, a Birmingham, Ala., native and Auburn University graduate. Sanders and Womack were the fourth and fifth individuals to garner the title of CBAA Fred McClure Intern. In 2021, the CBAA revived and renamed its internship program in honor of Fred McClure, the first African American to serve as CBAA Chair and the first person to serve two terms (1998-2002) in that role.

Sanders and Womack assisted with the day-to-day operations of the CBAA office and various aspects of the 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, including event management, game operations, ancillary events, ticketing, hospitality and pageantry, as well as supported Cotton Bowl Foundation and community service events and initiatives and the regular-season college football games played at AT&T Stadium.

Juneteenth

The CBAA staff participated in Juneteenth 2023 by once again serving as volunteers for Opal’s Walk for Freedom in Fort Worth on the actual recognition day of the Texas-based holiday (June 19) as part of the festivities celebrating the second anniversary of Juneteenth becoming a national federal holiday. This year’s 2.5-mile walk began and ended at Evans Plaza going through the historic Terrell Heights neighborhood.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

The CBAA recognized National Hispanic Heritage Month on October 10 by executing its social media posts for the day in Español.

In addition, the CBAA made available a Spanish version of its Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Art Contest submission packet for the first time.

NCAA Diversity & Inclusion Social Media Campaign

For the second year in a row, the CBAA amplified the NCAA Diversity & Inclusion Week Social Media Campaign. The CBAA engaged with the 2023 initiative held from October 17-29 with a post on Day 3 of the campaign that focused on the day’s theme of a shared responsibility.

Black History Month

The CBAA celebrated Black History Month via its website and social media platforms.

This year’s spotlight content was a five-part interview with CBAA Chair W. Kelvin Walker. The 43rd CBAA Chair is just the second Black person following Fred McClure to hold the top leadership position of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and Cotton Bowl Foundation.

This year’s content also included an interview by CBAA Vice President of Communications Scottie Rodgers for a Black History Month piece by Andrew Clay of WTAJ-TV delving into the story behind the 1946 and 1947 Penn State football teams and the program’s connection to the Cotton Bowl Classic.

National Girls & Women in Sports Day

On the national day of recognition (February 7, 2024), the CBAA celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day via its social platforms.

Women’s History Month

The CBAA celebrated Women’s History Month via its website and social media platforms.

This year’s spotlight content was a five-part interview with CBAA Chair-Elect Monica Christopher. Christopher is set to ascend to become the 44th CBAA Chair in 2026-28, which will make her just the second woman since Kathy Saunders (2008-10) to hold the top leadership position of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and Cotton Bowl Foundation.

ART CONTEST

Kilgore College Rangerettes Scholarship

For over two decades, the Cotton Bowl Foundation has funded a scholarship in honor of the Kilgore College Rangerettes, a Classic fixture since founder Gussie Nell Davis first introduced the Sweethearts of the Gridiron in 1949.

The endowed scholarship invested with the Texas Presbyterian Foundation via Kilgore College Foundation is awarded each academic year to a deserving member of the squad.

Alyssa Tai McBain, a freshman from El Paso, Texas, was awarded the CBAA Rangerettes scholarship for the 2023-24 academic year.

The 25th edition of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Art Contest celebrated another record-breaking year with a record number of 12,054 entries and a record-high of $82,000 distributed to support art teachers and programs across North Texas.

The beloved Classic tradition, supported by Amazon this year, used the dollars generated from North Texas Giving Day to distribute $500 grants to 164 art teachers on 171 campuses for art supplies, support art-centric programs and create experiences for elementary students.

The students’ submissions were laminated and distributed as gifts to the participating teams and used as placemats at selected 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic events during bowl week. The first, second and third-place winners per category have their artwork proudly displayed at their respective schools and AT&T Stadium inside the CBAA offices. This year’s winners and their art teachers were recognized in an on-field presentation during the 88th Classic.

DAN. S PETTY SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD RECIPIENTS

The Dan S. Petty Scholar-Athlete Award is presented annually to two deserving student-athletes, one from each team, participating in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. A crowning achievement for student-athletes playing in the Classic, this recognition was created as a continuing effort to emphasize the combination of academics and athletics along with good citizenship, leadership and sportsmanship. The student-athletes are selected by the schools’ directors of athletics and football head coaches.

The two Dan S. Petty Scholar-Athlete Award winners – Missouri graduate student defensive lineman Darius Robinson and Ohio State junior offensive lineman Donovan Jackson – for the 88th Classic are taking similar successful paths on and off the field. Robinson, a first-team All-SEC choice by the Associated Press and the SEC coaches after battling through an up-and-down, injury-plagued season, helped anchor the Tigers’ defensive unit. Off the field, the Southfield, Mich., native was named to the SEC Community Service Team, and was nominated for the American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team. His Darius Robinson Helping Hands Foundation is a nonprofit focused on providing assistance in the local community from youth to seniors who have a need. Donovan Jackson, a sport industry major from Bellaire, Texas, started for two years and was an All-Big Ten selection. Jackson has been named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree twice and was an OSU Scholar-Athlete who, in 2022, was also a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar for having an overall grade-point average of 3.60 or better for the year. He was a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection and was nominated for Academic All-America honors in 2023.

VET TIX

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) celebrated their partnership this year as the Tempe, Ariz.-based national nonprofit supporting veterans eclipsed the staggering milestone of distributing over 20 million free event tickets to its 1.8 million members.

The Classic and Vet Tix joined forces in 2017 as a way for the North Texas’ New Year’s tradition to give back to men and women serving in the military, first responders or members of the Veteran community. From its humble beginnings as a garage startup in 2008, Vet Tix has grown into the second largest Veteran Service Organization (VSO) in the United States. Since 2017, the Cotton Bowl Classic has given 7,800 veterans and military personnel the opportunity to enjoy the bowl experience and be a part of one of the best college football games of that season.

DARIUS ROBINSON Defensive Lineman Missouri

DONOVAN JACKSON Offensive Lineman Ohio State

GOODYEAR SUPPORT OF CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS & HONORARY CAPTAINS

Goodyear continued their remarkable support of Children’s Health and Scottish Rite Hospital for Children during Cotton Bowl week. Goodyear once again presented checks for $10,000 to both hospitals on game day.

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, in partnership with Children’s Health and Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, continued the tradition of the honorary captain program this year. Scottish Rite chose Rayne Urich as Missouri’s honorary captain, and Children’s Health selected Ryder Gray MolepskeEoff as Ohio State’s honorary captain. As part of the program, both teams presented a jersey to their respective captain and invited them to a team practice. Rayne and Ryder, both former patients at the hospitals, were included in the coin toss ceremony and the Goodyear check presentations to both hospitals in the first quarter.

COTTON BOWL HALL OF FAME

The 13th class of the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame was inducted in May 2023. Seven individuals that helped shape the tradition of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and college football history were inducted at AT&T Stadium. The inductees included former Florida State defensive back Terrell Buckley, Texas A&M quarterback Edd Hargett, Auburn linebacker Will Herring, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, Past CBAA Chairman Fred McClure, Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel, and Missouri tailback Tony Temple.

These seven honorees added their names to a group that has grown to 85 men and women who have left an indelible mark on the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, one of America’s original bowl games.

“There is nothing quite like our Hall of Fame celebration,” said Dave Brown, Chair, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association. “It is a special time where we have a chance to relive great moments from the past and honor those truly exceptional people who have built our game’s traditions.”

AT&T STADIUM UPGRADES

Last year at the NFL’s annual winter meetings in December, NFL owners approved the Cowboys’ plan to make $295 million worth of improvements to AT&T Stadium over the coming years. Upgrades have begun on the south side of AT&T Stadium to club and suite areas. The north side club and suite areas will be upgraded after the 2024-25 season. The upgrades are to be completed in time for 2026 World Cup as AT&T Stadium is set to host nine soccer matches, including a semifinal.

ARLINGTON DEVELOPMENT

The new Arlington Convention Center and the new Loews Arlington hotel opened in February of this year. The Loews Arlington is connected via a skybridge to Live! by Loews Arlington, and the two Loews properties now include a combined 1,188 guestrooms and 251,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space.

Additionally, in March of 2022, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new National Medal of Honor Museum, which honors those who have been awarded the nation’s highest military honor. The museum is scheduled to open in 2025. These new developments are all within walking distance of AT&T Stadium, providing tremendous opportunities for fans attending future Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classics.

CBAA BOARD MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

The Cotton Bowl Athletic Association Board of Directors and staff members talked to media across North Texas and beyond leading up to and during the bowl week activities surrounding the 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

CBAA Chair Dave Brown, Board member Dat Nguyen and staff members visited with television and radio stations, print/digital publications and podcasts on various topics surrounding the matchup between the No. 9 Missouri Tigers and No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes, including the first postseason contest between the two programs, fan events during bowl week, the impact of the Cotton Bowl Foundation and the 75th anniversary of Penn State’s Wally Triplett and Dennie Hoggard being the first two Black players to play in the Cotton Bowl Classic in the 1948 edition against SMU.

Overall, the coordinated media opportunities leading up to and during bowl season garnered a total reach of 49.5 million and a total media value of $97.2 million.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Dave Brown, Chair

W. Kelvin Walker, Chair-Elect

Bry Patton, Immediate Past Chair

Carl R. Ice, Past Chair

Christian Rodriguez, Treasurer

Gillian Breidenbach, Vice Chair

Dee Kelly, Secretary

Monica Christopher, Vice Chair

Terrance Henderson, Vice Chair

Baker Montgomery, Vice Chair

Fin Ewing III, Playoff Committee Chair

Daniel P. Novakov, Legal Counsel

Rick Baker, President/CEO

2023-2024 LEADERSHIP

W. Mike Baggett

Rick Baker

Brian Barnard

Robbie Baty

Elizabeth Bentrup

Gillian Breidenbach

Dave Brown

Roland Burns

Heath Cheek

Monica Christopher

John F. Crawford

Barry Davis

Bill Davis

A.R. (Buddy) Dike

Cole Dulaney

Michael Dwyer

Chad Estis

Jeff Fehlis

R. Bruce Gadd

J.J. Gomez

Terrance F. Henderson

Darrell Hernandez

Adam Herrin

Rick Baker, President

Gillian Breidenbach

Dave Brown, Chair

Art Barnes

Lauren Barnicle

Nicole Britenriker

Brayden Burnett

Joseph P. DeWoody, Chair

CBAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Isabell Novakov Higginbotham

Elly Sachs Holder

Cindy Hourigan

Carl. R. Ice

Finley (Fin) Ewing, III

Dr. John Field Scovell III

Robert Smith, III

S. Denton Walker III

William D. Jackman

J. Stephen Jones

Rod Jones

Thomas C. Bain, Jr.

Thomas Morgan, Jr.

Jim Williams, Jr.

Matthew A. Kairis

Dee Kelly

Derek Kerr

Chris Kleinert

Marcus E. Knight

Andrew Lauck

Tim Leahy

Meg Lee

Stephen Luskey

Kyle Mabry

Todd Macsuga

Kyle Manley

Jeff Mathews

Brad Mayne

Jay McAuley

Fred McClure

Michael Miles

Baker Montgomery

Jeff Montgomery

Porter Montgomery

Dat Nguyen

Daniel P. Novakov

Greg Oliver

Bry Patton

Monica Paul

Griffin Perry

Kasey Pipes

Mandy Price

Brad Ramsey

Christian Rodriguez

Daniel Routman

Bruce Roy

FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Monica Christopher, Ex-Officio

Joseph P. DeWoody, Council Rep.

Terrance F. Henderson

Carl R. Ice

William D. Jackman

Marty MacInnis, Secretary/Treasurer

Christopher Roy

Tod A. Ruble

Ketric Sanford

Kathy Saunders

John Field Scovell

Brad Sham

Jim Ray Smith

Andrew Springate

John Stewart

Mike Sweet

William Toles

Jake Wagner

Ryan Waldron

W. Kelvin Walker

Kevin Watler

Blake Wiley

Karen Wilson-Torres

Eric Winton

Ramsay Woodall

Vickie Yakunin

Bry Patton

W. Kelvin Walker

Margaux Gill

Ashley Givens

David Haines

Ian Hall

Harrison Holmes

Rick Baker

Will Estel

Charlie Fiss

Lisa Fortenberry

Deneldric Hudgens

Michael Konradi

Marty MacInnis

Christa Melia

David Krieghbaum

Chris Miner

Cody Moorse

Garrett Nerren

Tanner Newton

CBAA STAFF

Nancy Mills

Kelly Newell

Tiffany Rauschkolb

Scottie Rodgers

Logan Passmore

Christina Sanders

Deren Wilcox

Andrew Wiley

Kyle Williams

Makyle Sanders

Amy Scott

Allison Webb

John Womack