Devin Brown will start at quarterback for Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, coach Ryan Day confirmed Wednesday.

The opportunity for the redshirt freshman comes in the aftermath of Kyle McCord transferring to Syracuse earlier this week.

Brown, one of three scholarship quarterbacks left on the Buckeyes’ roster with seventh-year senior Tristan Gebbia and freshman Lincoln Kienholz, had pushed McCord for the starting job into September. He will see most of the snaps behind center in the bowl game against Missouri on Dec. 29.

“The plan is to play Devin,” Day said. “If the situation comes up to get Lincoln in the game, we would do that, but this is going to be Devin’s game to play.”

Day said he has been “fired up” by Brown’s performance in Cotton Bowl practices.

“It’s been great for him,” Day said, “now that he’s healthy and feeling better. It’s like, ‘OK, take this thing and run.’”

More: 'An incredible moment for me.' Ohio State QB Devin Brown thrilled for Cotton Bowl start

More: Join the Ohio State Sports Insider text group with Bill Rabinowitz, Joey Kaufman Adam Jardy

Brown injured his right ankle as he rotated with McCord in a win over Penn State in October, coming in as part of a red-zone package.

He has thrown for 197 yards and two touchdowns with an interception in five games, along with rushing for 35 yards and a score.

The status of others for the Cotton Bowl remains up in the air.

When asked if wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., running back TreVeyon Henderson and defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau had been “out there” at practice.

“We got a good group playing in the game,” Day said.

Six other underclassmen who are eligible to enter next year’s NFL draft said last week that they would play in the game.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch and can be reached at jkaufman@dispatch.com.

Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football QB Devin Brown to start in Cotton Bowl vs Missouri