Missouri’s first SEC test comes with a loud backdrop and a ranked opponent.
The No. 21/19 Tigers head to Starkville on Saturday night to face Mississippi State, a matchup that pits two 3-0 teams against each other as conference play begins. Missouri is coming off a sluggish win over Troy, while the Bulldogs opened SEC play with a road victory at South Carolina.
Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. The game will air on SEC Network, and FUBO will stream it live.
The betting market has Missouri as a 5.5-point underdog, with the over/under opening at 59.5 points.
The Tigers’ availability picture remains worth watching. Ahmad Hardy is doubtful for the trip to his home state, and Eli Drinkwitz has previously said he wants to see two full weeks of practice from Hardy before considering him for game action. There’s been no indication Hardy has returned to practice, and he was in street clothes for Missouri’s win over Troy.
Missouri will also be without Malae Fonoti at running back. The backup was ruled out for the season after suffering a non-contact ACL tear in Week 1.
There’s still uncertainty around starting defensive end Darris Smith, who was helped off the field in the first half against Troy. He returned in the second half, but left again after one play.
“He tried to give it a go and wasn't able to do so, so we'll see how his recovery goes,” Drinkwitz said postgame. “But obviously it wasn't anything other than a nick. We'll see how quickly we can get that recovered, but I'm not a doctor.”
On the field, the biggest question for Missouri is whether the offense can clean up its Week 3 issues quickly enough. Beau Pribula’s performance against Troy - 10-of-19 for 91 yards - left some pause, especially with a road SEC game waiting under the lights. If Missouri wants to keep pace, it needs its quarterback operating much closer to his best.
That’s because Mississippi State brings a quarterback who can change the game in a hurry. Kamario Taylor is the central threat in this matchup, and Missouri’s secondary has to be sharper than it was against Troy if it wants to keep him in check.
There’s also a notable trend on the Bulldogs’ side: Mississippi State hasn’t won a home SEC game in four years. Its last home win against an SEC team came against Auburn in 2022, and Missouri is the Bulldogs’ first shot this season to end that drought.
For Drinkwitz, the road numbers add another layer. He is 10-17 on the road as Missouri’s coach and 7-19 against ranked teams at the time of the game. Mississippi State enters this one ranked No. 24 in the AP poll.
Still, this is not a game Missouri can’t win. If both quarterbacks are rolling, it has the look of one of the most entertaining games of the week.
Prediction: Missouri 32, Mississippi State 30
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