WATCH: Ryan Day's son steals Missouri player's towel during Cotton Bowl showdown

During Friday night's Cotton Bowl, the Ohio State Buckeyes not only suffered a disheartening 14-3 loss to the Missouri Tigers but also found themselves caught in a controversy involving head coach Ryan Day's son, RJ.

The Cotton Bowl clash between Ohio State and Missouri took a bizarre turn when video footage surfaced, allegedly depicting RJ Day, a freshman quarterback at St. Francis DeSales High School, stealing a towel from the opposing team's player.

The towel, belonging to star Tigers defensive back Kris Abrams-Daine, was taken following a play along the Buckeyes sideline. Here is a video of the same:

Ohio State's struggles on the field in the Cotton Bowl

The Cotton Bowl defeat marked the end of a challenging season for the Buckeyes, who ended with two losses.

In the aftermath of the Cotton Bowl loss, HC Ryan Day acknowledged the team's underwhelming performance, emphasizing the need for improvement.

"I told them a lot of guys played hard in this game. You saw guys fighting here and there. We got put in a tough spot and didn't help [Lincoln Kienholz] at all, and that's why we lost the game. It hurts to finish the season like this—with two losses. That's not good enough at Ohio State and we all know that."

The offense, led by quarterbacks Lincoln Kienholz and Devin Brown, struggled to make an impact, managing only 203 yards of total offense against the Missouri defense.

The absence of key players, including quarterback Kyle McCord and star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., further compounded Ohio State's woes.

The Buckeyes now face uncertainties at the quarterback position, with Brown and Keinholz in contention and the arrival of five-star prospect Air Noland in the upcoming season.

Uncertain future for Ohio State

As Ohio State enters the 2024 season, questions loom over the quarterback position, with Brown, Kienholz, and incoming freshman Air Noland vying for the starting role.

The team faces significant pressure to secure a spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. Ryan Day's relief at retaining top recruit Jeremiah Smith, a standout wide receiver, adds a positive note to an otherwise challenging offseason.

The wide receiver's decision to stay with the Buckeyes, despite late efforts from Miami, solidifies Ohio State's top-five recruiting class and provides much-needed momentum for the coaching staff heading into the 2024 season.