Missouri made significant strides in 2023, finishing with an 11-2 record and securing a victory in the Cotton Bowl to conclude the season. In 2022, the Tigers had a less favorable record of 6-7 after a loss to Wake Forest in the Gasparilla Bowl. MU improved on multiple aspects this season, but the most notable difference was their ability to win close games. Eliah Drinkwitz’s team lost four games by one possession in 2022. Six of Missouri’s 11 victories in 2023 came down to the fourth quarter, and four were by one possession. Let’s examine the contrast in competitive matchups for the Tigers between 2022 and 2023.
2022
17-14 Loss at Auburn
Photo Cred: SI
MU suffered a crushing defeat to Auburn in overtime on the road in 2022. With a minute to go in regulation, quarterback Brady Cook found former Missouri wide receiver Dominic Lovett for a 39-yard reception to reach the AU 3-yard line. The Tigers ran the ball for a play and let the clock wind down to two seconds before calling a timeout to get in field goal formation.
Kicker Harrison Mevis, who had missed just six field goals all season, missed a 26-yard attempt as time expired, sending the game to overtime. Blake Baker’s defense held Auburn to a field goal on their opening overtime drive, but MU couldn’t capitalize on their offensive possession. Running back Nathaniel Peat fumbled the ball on the goal line, ultimately giving the victory to Auburn.
26-22 Loss vs. Georgia
A week after their loss to Auburn, Missouri hosted No. 1 Georgia. The Tigers had the lead over the defending national champs for most of the game but couldn’t sustain it in the fourth quarter. MU led that final quarter 22-12. With just over 10 minutes remaining, Bulldogs RB Kenny McIntosh rushed for three yards on fourth-and-two to advance the ball to the Missouri 1-yard line. On the next play, RB Kendall Milton punched the ball through the end zone to bring UGA within one possession.
Missouri punted the following drive, giving the ball back to Georgia. QB Stetson Bennett found tight end Brock Bowers for a 12-yard reception to reach the Mizzou 1-yard line. RB Daijun Edwards scored a touchdown on the next play to give the Bulldogs the lead with just over four minutes remaining. After three quick plays, the Tigers punted with three-and-a-half minutes left. However, UGA’s ground attack became too much for Missouri’s defense, thus the final score of 26-22.
24-17 Loss at Florida
Photo Cred: Gator Country
Missouri’s comeback attempt came up just short against Florida after letting the game slip away in the second half. The Gators scored two touchdowns in the second half to take a 24-10 lead early in the final quarter. Despite UF’s momentum, the Tigers did not go away. Cook found Mehki Miller for an 18-yard reception to get to the red zone. Peat followed with an 18-yard rushing touchdown to cut the Tigers’ deficit to 24-17 with 5:58 remaining in the game.
With under three minutes remaining, defensive back Daylan Carnell intercepted Anthony Richardson’s pass near midfield. However, MU couldn’t take advantage of the extra possession to tie the game. Cook’s pass to WR Tauskie Dove on fourth down was incomplete, resulting in a turnover-on-downs with just over a minute left.
21-17 Loss vs. Kentucky
Drinkwitz’s team couldn’t secure a victory against Kentucky in front of their home crowd at Faurot Field. On third-and-11, QB Will Levis connected with WR Dane Key for a touchdown, giving Kentucky a 21-17 lead with 5:18 remaining. A controversial call made a significant difference in the matchup.
With 2:20 remaining, linebacker Will Norris was penalized for roughing the kicker after the ball went over Wildcats punter Colin Goodfellow’s head on the snap. The flag resulted in an automatic first down for UK. Kentucky took more time off the clock, giving Missouri the ball back with under 40 seconds left. WR Barrett Banister fumbled the ball on the last play, securing the win for Kentucky.
2023
23-19 Win over Middle Tennessee State
Photo Cred: Rock M Nation
The Tigers hung on late to survive Middle Tennessee State’s upset bid early in the season. Blue Raiders QB Nicholas Vattiato threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to WR Justin Olson on fourth down with under seven minutes remaining, cutting Mizzou’s lead to 23-17. Cook was brought down in the backfield and fumbled the ball out of the end zone on Missouri’s next drive, resulting in a safety.
Baker’s defense came up big when it mattered most. MTSU advanced the ball to the MU 42-yard line. After Middle Tennessee State moved up the field, the Tigers’ defense stood on four straight plays to force a turnover on downs with 3:22 remaining. On the following possession, Missouri faced a third-and-21 situation after an offensive pass interference called on MU star receiver Luther Burden III. However, MTSU defensive back Teldrick Ross was flagged for pass interference, resulting in an automatic first down for the Tigers. Missouri used the rest of the clock to come away victorious in their second game of the year.
30-27 Win over Kansas State
The Tigers won a thriller over Kansas State after going back and forth the entire game. Cook found Burden for a touchdown with 8:24 remaining in the game to give MU a 27-24 lead. The Wildcats responded by marching to the Missouri 3-yard line. The Tigers’ defense held KSU to a field goal, tying the game at 27 with 5:27 remaining. Both teams punted on their following drives, and Missouri had one more chance to win the game with a minute-and-a-half left. Kirby Moore’s offense drove the ball to the Kansas State 44-yard line. As time expired, Mevis drilled a 61-yard field goal to lift Mizzou to victory. That Mevis field goal became the longest-made field goal in SEC history.
34-27 Win over Memphis
Photo Cred: Rock M Nation
Missouri was in control throughout most of the contest, but Memphis kept fighting in their eventual loss against the Missouri Tigers. QB Seth Henigan led UofM into MU territory towards the end of the third quarter when the Missouri Tigers were up 24-17. However, Memphis was unsuccessful on fourth down, handing the ball back to Missouri at the beginning of the fourth.
Each team scored a field goal on their next offensive possessions. With 2:46 remaining in the contest, RB Cody Schrader rushed for a 37-yard touchdown, giving the Missouri Tigers a 34-20 lead. The Memphis Tigers did not give up, though. Ryan Silverfield’s offense marched down the field and capitalized with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Henigan to WR Koby Drake with 1:21 remaining. MU secured the ball on Memphis onside kick attempt to put the game away.
38-21 Win at Kentucky
After losing to Kentucky two years in a row, Missouri finally defeated the Wildcats on the road after dominating the fourth quarter. The Tigers trailed 21-20 entering that final quarter. After advancing the ball into UK territory towards the end of the third, Cook ran for a touchdown to put MU in the lead. Schrader proceeded to find his way into the end zone to put Missouri up 28-21.
Moore’s offense picked up right where they left off on the following possession. Schrader ran for a 19-yard touchdown to extend the Tigers’ lead to 35-21 with 11:07 remaining in the game. DBs Kris Abrams-Draine and Marcus Clarke each recorded an interception on Kentucky’s next two drives to secure MU’s sixth win of the season.
33-31 Win over Florida
Missouri’s dreams of making a New Year’s Six bowl were saved after surviving Florida’s upset bid at Faurot Field in November. To begin the fourth quarter, Cook connected with WR Theo Wease Jr. for a 77-yard touchdown on the second play of the drive to extend Mizzou’s lead to 30-21.
The Gators responded right away, however. Backup QB Max Brown led UF’s offense inside the red zone. RB Trevor Etienne scored a nine-yard rushing touchdown to trim MU’s lead to 30-28 with a little under eight minutes remaining in the contest.
Photo Cred: X.com
Three minutes later, Florida got the ball back with a chance to take the lead. Brown rushed for a 27-yard gain to get inside the red zone again. With a minute-and-a-half remaining, Gators kicker Trey Smack made a 35-yard field goal to give them a 31-30 lead.
The Tigers had one final chance to win the game. On fourth-and-17, Cook connected with Burden for 27 yards to advance the ball to the UF 40-yard line. The QB continued to complete two more passes to Miller and Mookie Cooper to get to the 17-yard line. After using a timeout, Mevis drilled a 30-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining to keep Missouri’s New Year’s Six bowl hopes alive.
14-3 Win over Ohio State
MU’s offense was struggling for a majority of the game but the defense kept the Tigers competitive until they pulled away in the fourth quarter.
The momentum shifted towards the end of the third quarter, when Cook completed a pass to WR Marquis Johnson for 50 yards. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Schrader rushed for a seven-yard touchdown to give Missouri a 7-3 lead.
The defense continued to strive by forcing another punt, and Mizzou built off their momentum from the previous drive. Wease caught a reception for 31 yards to get near midfield. The Tigers’ ground attack started to wear down OSU’s defense, moving their way downfield. On second-and-goal, Cook found Burden for a seven-yard touchdown pass to extend Missouri’s lead to 14-3 with 5:12 remaining in the Cotton Bowl matchup, eventually giving them the win.
