The Morning Commute for November 11, 2024.

Welcome to the Morning Commute

Today we’re talking about the Mayors Cup. Prior to the season, it might not have surprised any of us if Mizzou was ranked in the Top 25 headed into the road trip to Columbia Least. It might have surprised quite a few of us to say South Carolina would be ranked ahead of the Tigers.

In the latest AP poll, Mizzou held firm at No. 24 after their 30-23 win over Oklahoma. South Carolina, on the other hand, leap-frogged the Tigers after trouncing Vanderbilt, setting up a ranked match up in the battle of the Columbias. Credit to Shane Beamer, he’s built a feisty team in the armpit of the Carolinas, and they’ll (likely) be deserved favorites.

In its short history, The Mayors Cup has always been more of a matter of pride than anything else. This year, it might mean something a bit extra. Could the Gamecocks leapfrog the Tigers for bowl preference if they win? Could the Tigers use a win at Williams-Brice as a signature piece to show the committee?

More is on the line this weekend than has been since 2013 at least.

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Yesterday at Rock M and Rock M+

• In which it felt good to be on the right side of college football chaos again:

I’m sure that once Monday rolls around, or whenever it is that we hear the next Brady Cook injury update, that the anxiety of the 2024 season will start to flood back. But after enduring two-thirds of a season of holding our breaths, sighs of relief and a few gut punches, it felt good to watch the wildness of college football unfold in our own backyard. Even more so, it felt good on the back of a good Mizzou performance.

Knowing Mizzou’s luck, I’m sure will be paying for it for years to come.

• In which Nate and I offered some spare thoughts, including some well wishes for Deion Burks:

I’ll be honest and say that I don’t know enough about the ins and outs of targeting to say whether or not it was — the broadcasters themselves seemed split on the matter — but the fact that it took all of 10 minutes to get him up and moving again was scary. Send all of your well wishes, prayers, good vibes his way after that nasty knock to the head.

At last check, he was tweeting today, so it appears he’s OK. Thank goodness, because that hit was scary.

• In which Sam studied the hall for Mizzou Hoops against Howard and determined that we’re all freaking out a bit too much about the score:

Here’s the thing about variance, most of the time you play within your averages. Every so often you have a shooting variance game, sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s not. What’s rare though, is when both teams have a shooting variance night but one team is really really bad and the other team is really really good. That, well it happened last night. Fortunately for Missouri they were that much better than Howard, and the shooting variance didn’t really hurt them past making the game closer than it should have been.

Agreed. That game never felt like much of a doubt.

• In which Adeen highlighted how the Mizzou offense adapted to a struggling interior and found a way to thrive against Oklahoma’s stout defense.

Look, this article could be about Drew Pyne not being that good in the first half or the offensive play calling being extremely conservative in that half against the Sooners, but the reality is no offense or quarterback can succeed throwing in the pocket with the kind of up the middle pressure Missouri gives up.

Please be OK, Connor Tollison.

• In which the Robin Pingeton farewell tour continues in moribund fashion:

Gonna be a looooooooooong season.

• In which Chad, er, odd-serves a few things about the opening lines for next weekend:
• In which Mizzou Volleyball stays hot and sweeps away South Carolina:

Mizzou is again tied for first in the SEC with Kentucky, further strengthening the team’s case for a spot in the top 25. Notably, tonight was the team’s first sweep since facing Alabama on October 11, avoiding the third set slump.

Good omen for next weekend? I’ll say yes.

• Over at Rock M+, we’re talking about Mizzou Hoops win over Howard, PFF grades and much more. Join us!

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