Alabama linebacker Keanu Koht (19) intercepts a Drew Pyne pass over Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III (3) in the third quarter of a game against Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Pyne threw all three of Missouri’s interceptions in the game. (CAL TOBIAS/ROCK M NATION)
Missouri hasn’t met their own expectations, but with four games to go there’s a chance to get healthy and attack the end of the year.
If last week was the storybook, this week was the nightmare.
To go from such a wild swing in just one week makes this all harder to digest. This sucks. Saying anything else is being insincere.
A week ago we were building bronze statues for Brady Cook outside Faurot Field, this week we’re questioning the very existence of the Missouri football program.
After entering the season with playoff expectations the Tigers have taken the field two times on the road against playoff caliber opponents and been flattened. Final score in College Station: 41-10. Final score in Tuscaloosa: 35-0.
It’s not like everything was humming for Missouri when Cook left the game with a hand injury. They were struggling to move the ball, had gained only 61 yards on 5 drives. Luther Burden had only a few touches and little production. But the defense was strong, they were harassing Jalen Milroe, and had only given up 122 yards on 5 drives including 2 field goals.
The score was 6-0 and we were nearing the end of the 1st half. So while the offense as ineffective, the defense was holding fast. Once Cook stepped into the locker room to be examined, and Drew Pyne came in you could sense the energy shift a bit. Then Pyne threw his first of three interceptions, you could see the damn was about to break. Alabama only had to go 35 yards to score after having an average starting field position of their own 17 yard line on their first 5 drives.
They punched it in, Alabama was up 13-0, and that was it. Cook was announced as not coming back and we all knew.
Maybe there’s a world where things go better, Brady Cook is healthy and able to lead a competent offense. Maybe in that world Missouri is still only 6-2 but with their playoff hopes in tact after close losses to good teams. But in this one they’re 6-2 and any hope of the playoffs feels dashed. Realistically they should be since the Tigers haven’t looked like a playoff team for the bulk of this season.
I’ll still argue for Missouri being a good, just not great, football team. Provided Brady Cook is healthy. 6-2 after 8 games is respectable. You get credit for your wins as much as blame for your losses. There’s no question the way the season has played out this is one of the more disappointing teams in college football, but take heart Mizzou fans… at least you’re not kansas! But 6-2 is still good, and Missouri is good. However, like a lot of teams outside of a very select few, the line between being average or good usually lies on the injury report.
Few teams are able to navigate an injury report that involves the starting Quarterback. This was always the risk, especially with Cook who’s known for being willing to sacrifice himself each play. But even with Cook not able to play, it doesn’t make the loss sting any less.
Because there wasn’t any real push without him. It wasn’t until Alabama put their back up players in before Mizzou put together a drive in the 4th quarter. Mizzou looked like a team destined to lose today even with Cook, but without him it’s hard to see them mustering enough offense to beat anyone left on the schedule.
Missouri has a bye week next week, and that’s the good news. They need it. Let the loss simmer a bit. Get people healthy. Get Cook healthy, hopefully. There are four games left and each is winnable. Maybe this all hasn’t played out like we’d hoped. Missouri doesn’t have to get it all back at once, just go be 1-0 against Oklahoma and take it from there.
Other SEC Scores:
Texas (5) 27, Vanderbilt (25) 24
Texas A&M (14) 38, LSU (8) 23
Ole Miss (18) 26, Oklahoma 14
Arkansas 58, Mississippi State 25
Auburn 24, Kentucky 10
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