DALLAS - Sometimes it seems the defenses in this Arkansas vs. Missouri Cotton Bowl are cast like Hollywood extras for a Western shootout.

Just helpless bystanders filling out the scene while two of the four Heisman Trophy finalists, Darren McFadden and Chase Daniel, duel in the Big D.

It is the message both Arkansas interim coach Reggie Herring and Missouri coach Gary Pinkel will goad their defenses with even as each coaches one of the stars, Arkansas junior running back McFadden and Missouri junior quarterback Daniel.

McFadden's eligibility status, clouded last week by Little Rock TV station KARK's report later deemed inaccurate in KARK's public apology, has been cleared after the University of Arkansas investigated with the cooperation of the SEC.

" The University of Arkansas has conducted a thorough review of allegations reported in the media concerning Darren McFadden, " the UA released in a statement Monday. " Based upon the institution's review, Mr. McFadden remains eligible and will participate in the 2008 AT & T Cotton Bowl Classic. "

So with McFadden in, certainly he, Daniel and such Arkansas offensive stars as All-American tailback / kick returner Felix Jones and Rimington Award winning center Jonathan Luigs and such Missouri offensive stars as All-American tight end Martin Rucker, secondteam All Big 12 tight end Chase Coffman and freshman All-American all-purpose receiver / running back / returner Jeremy Maclin are the headliners for today's 10: 30 a.m. kickoff at the Cotton Bowl.

Both Pinkel, whose nationally sixth-ranked Big 12 North champion Tigers are 11-2, and Herring, the defensive coordinator briefly inheriting as interim coach the Razorbacks (8-4 ) acknowledge the defenses stand in the shadows.

" Certainly when their offenses are talked about any defense from a competitive standpoint and a pride standpoint draw from that a little bit, " Pinkel said.

Or a lot, Herring says with fingers crossed.

" That's kind of what I am hoping for to be honest with you, " Herring said.

Both coaches tout their own defense and each other's.

" I know these guys, " Herring said of the Hogs. " I've coached them. What Missouri has done defensively is they are consistent. They play fast and they play physical for four quarters. "

Given the explosiveness of the aforementioned stars and others offensively wearing Razorback red or Mizzou's black and gold, both defenses could play pretty well and still get gashed.

Both offenses offer more than their stereotypes.

Mizzou's Spread offense gets labeled an aerial circus with Daniel (372 of 534 for 4, 170 yards and 33 TDs ) mismatching those 6-6 tight ends who run like wideouts on small cornerbacks when not throwing to Maclin.

Rucker has caught 81 passes for 815 yards and 8 TDs. Coffman, 51 for 523 yards and 7 TDs, and Maclin, 77 for 1, 023 yards and 9 TDs.

However, Daniel can run the ball, too. So does tailback Tony Temple (758 yards on 162 carries ) and Maclin (46 carries for 349 yards and 4 TDs.

Arkansas' offense isn't all Ground Hogs even with McFadden (304 carries for 1, 725 yards and 15 TDs ) and Jones (123 carries for 1, 117 yards and 11 TDs ) running over, by and beyond defenders.

For his last two games, SEC victories over Liberty Bowl champion Mississippi State and LSU, the SEC champion bound for the BCS national championship game, Arkansas junior quarterback Casey Dick passing is 24 of 35 with 5 TDs versus zero interceptions.

McFadden (6 of 11 with 4 TDs ) can throw it, too. They finally have senior wide receivers Marcus Monk and Robert Johnson to go with leading receiver Peyton Hillis, a fullback with wideout numbers (44 catches for 485 yards and 5 TDs ) as threats maybe to make Mizzou back some out of the box instead of stacking against McFadden and Jones.

Emotionally, each team has issues.

The Tigers have felt slighted. They know the Kansas team they beat, 36-28 to win the Big 12 North is in a BCS bowl instead of them solely because KU was idly done while Oklahoma beat Mizzou, 38-17 in the Big 12 Championship.

Arkansas has been piled on with the false report on McFadden this week after two years of rumors and criticism against coach Houston Nutt. Nutt resigned Nov. 26 and will be replaced in all capacities Jan. 2 by Bobby Petrino.

The Hogs' focus has amazed an interim staff returning only running backs coach Tim Horton and cornerbacks coach Bobby Allen to Petrino's staff.

" You've got one focus and that's football, " Herring said. " The stock market could crash... who knows maybe Osama bin Laden might ride by on a horse, and we wouldn't know. I'm just telling you, we have worked. "

They all have work, the players assert, including and especially Herring and six assistants knowing they'll work elsewhere starting Jan. 2.