DALLAS -- Final Cotton Bowl updates from Ohio State coach Urban Meyer's joint news conference on Thursday with USC coach Clay Helton.
* Meyer and Helton both expect all of their available players to play in Friday's bowl game, which means neither coach is expecting draft-eligible players to sit out as long as they're healthy.
* Friday's game against USC will be the 50th and final career game for Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett. Meyer was asked about Barrett's final game, and made mention of how happy he was to see Barrett win a championship in the Big Ten title game against Wisconsin.
"How you're measured is how many championships you've won. I really wanted to see him get that championship," Meyer said. "He's done it all for us, and now it's an opportunity for him to close out his career and win us a Cotton Bowl championship."
* Asked if a third loss this year, something Meyer hasn't endured since his 2010 season at Florida, would tarnish this season: "Of course," Meyer said. He also said that as a younger coach he would dwell on such a thing, but now the focus will be on moving ahead to next year, win or lose.
* The Buckeyes are prepping for a bowl game, and while Meyer said that's been the most important aspect of the last few weeks, there has been a quarterback competition happening in the background.
Meyer didn't shed any light on the positioning in that battle among Dwayne Haskins, Joe Burrow and Tate Martell. But he's been keeping an eye on how they're practicing.
"I really respect the three players," Meyer said. "That's the kind of depth you need. ... They all have somewhat different skill sets, which will be a challenge for us. But it's a lot of fun coaching those guys. ... They've been outstanding the last three weeks ... and you can see how good they're going to be."
* Meyer said the player who's jumped out the most from USC's offense is running back Ronald Jones. But the Buckeyes also have to figure out a way to stop Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold, who could be the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
"Sam, if you give him time, with the receivers they have, you won't stop him," Meyer said. "That's not going to happen. ... You're not gonna design a coverage to stop these receivers and a top-2 pick in the NFL Draft."
So Meyer put a lot of the onus on Ohio State's pass rush making Darnold uncomfortable, something the Buckeyes weren't always able to do when they lost to Oklahoma and quarterback Baker Mayfield back in September.
* Meyer said he expects former Ohio State running back and current Dallas Cowboy Ezekiel Elliott to be with the Buckeyes for Friday's game at AT&T Stadium, home of the Cowboys.
* College programs can't hire their new 10th assistant coach until Jan. 9, but there have been multiple reports that Ohio State plans to hire Washington State defensive coordinator Alex Grinch.
Meyer did not confirm that on Thursday. "There's been some conversation, but nothing finalized yet," Meyer said.
He added that he doesn't think the Buckeyes will lose any coaches from this year's staff.
* Both coaches talked about the accelerated recruiting calendar, and how different this December was with the early signing period and bowl prep. Meyer said he's not sure what it means for January now, and that Ohio State -- with 21 players signed -- may only have room for two more players in this class.
Ohio State also doesn't know yet which players are leaving for the NFL Draft, which could open some spots.
* Helton said he doesn't expect to have linebacker Porter Gustin, a former five-star linebacker who was recruited by Ohio State, to be available for Friday's game. Gustin has been out since October with a broken toe.