Missouri opened the week with a clean SEC availability report, and that’s becoming a familiar sight.
When the Tigers released their first mandated report Wednesday, Nov. 4, ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Texas, there were no new additions on Missouri’s side. It’s the second straight game week the Tigers have started without any fresh injury concerns beyond players already ruled out for the season.
The only names Missouri listed were the same ones it has carried through SEC play: running back Malae Fonoti, right tackle Josh Atkins and tight end Gavin Hoffman. Fonoti is out for the season, while Eli Drinkwitz said he does not expect Atkins to be available this year.
Texas, meanwhile, showed up with a much busier report.
On offense, the Longhorns listed starting receivers Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo as questionable, while rotational running back Hollywood Smothers was ruled out. On defense, star edge rusher Colin Simmons is questionable, along with starting nickel Graceson Littleton and cornerback Kade Phillips, who have played the fifth- and sixth-most defensive snaps for Texas this season, respectively.
Texas also listed offensive lineman Trevor Goosby, tight end Nick Townsend and edge rusher Richard Wesley as out.
Missouri’s top-20 showdown with Texas is set for 11 a.m. Saturday on Faurot Field in Columbia.
The Tigers entered the week ranked No. 18 in the first College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday, while Texas came in at No. 7.
The SEC requires availability reports each night beginning Wednesday before conference games, with updates coming again Thursday and Friday night, then one final report about 90 minutes before kickoff Saturday.
The reports use these designations: available, probable, questionable, doubtful and out. They are not limited strictly to injuries, though that’s often the shorthand fans use. The league also enforces penalties for inaccurate or late reports, including fines ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 and possible “accountability measures” for head coaches.
In Other News...
Mizzous Shot At A Statement Win May Depend On Texas Saturday
Missouri heads into Saturday with the same injury picture it has been carrying, as Malae Fonoti, Josh Atkins and Gavin Hoffman remain out. The bigger question, though, is what Texas will have available when the Tigers try to turn this into a statement game, because the Longhorns are dealing with a much longer list of concerns and several starters are still in question.
Among the names to watch are Colin Simmons, Ryan Wingo, Cam Coleman, Kade Phillips and Graceson Littleton, all listed as questionable. Texas is already without running back Hollywood Smothers and tight end Nick Townsend, while Trevor Goosby is out for the season, leaving the Longhorns with some real uncertainty on both sides of the ball as Missouri looks to capitalize on the opening. [Read more 🡒]
Ahmad Hardy Just Became Mizzous Biggest Question Against Texas
Ahmad Hardy finally got back on the field in Missouris win over Arkansas, and even in a limited return, the Tigers had to like simply having their returning All-American running back available again. Hardy played five snaps and carried twice for five yards, a modest first step after missing time, but it was enough to signal that Missouri can begin folding him back into the offense as the stakes rise late in the season.
Eliah Drinkwitz has already said Hardys workload should grow against Texas, which adds another layer to a matchup that already has plenty riding on it. Missouri has leaned on Jamal Roberts to lead the SEC in rushing yards, but the Tigers are now trying to balance that production with Hardys return while staring down a Texas defense that will make every carry count. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou's Explosive Debut Raised A Much Bigger Question
Missouris season opener against Cleveland State did more than just start the year with a blowout. The Tigers rolled to a 61-point win, the largest margin in a season-opening victory in program history, and the performance gave an early glimpse of how different this roster can look when the shots are falling and the pace is where Missouri wants it.
Jason Crowe Jr. made the loudest first impression, scoring 23 points in his debut, the most by a freshman in a first game for the program. Toni Bryant added 15 points, six rebounds and three blocks, while Mark Mitchells nine assists hinted at a lineup that can create offense in a variety of ways. The bigger question now is how often Missouri can turn that kind of balance into something sustainable once the competition tightens. [Read more 🡒]