Missouri heads to Fayetteville on Saturday looking to reset after its bye week and get back on track in the Battle Line Rivalry against Arkansas.
The Tigers enter the game at No. 23 with a 5-2 record overall and a 2-2 mark in SEC play. They’re trying to bounce back from a 31-3 loss to Ole Miss, a game in which Missouri’s offense never really got going.
The Tigers mustered only three points, even with Austin Simmons putting together a 25-for-44 passing line for 339 yards and an interception. On the ground, Jamal Roberts was limited to 39 yards on 20 carries.
For Missouri, Saturday brings a chance to shake off that defeat and avoid a third SEC loss.
Arkansas, meanwhile, comes in at 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the SEC after a 31-21 win over Vanderbilt. That victory snapped a 14-game losing streak against SEC opponents, and the Razorbacks will try to carry that momentum into a home matchup at Donald W.
Reynolds Razorback Stadium. KJ Jackson led the way against Vanderbilt, going 21 of 31 for 251 yards without an interception while also adding 58 rushing yards.
The Razorbacks and Tigers are both looking to make a statement, but the numbers on each side tell different stories. Simmons has thrown for 1,773 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, while Roberts has piled up 867 rushing yards and eight scores. For Arkansas, Jackson has passed for 1,444 yards and seven touchdowns, Braylen Russell has 205 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and Chris Marshall leads the receiving group with 633 yards and two touchdowns.
Missouri On SI beat writers will provide coverage with a live blog throughout the game.
In Other News...
Mizzous First Arkansas Injury Report Leaves One Road Concern Unsettled
The SECs first injury report for Missouris trip to Arkansas offered a little clarity and one notable dose of uncertainty for the Tigers. Three Missouri players were listed as out, and the biggest item on the report for the road team centered on Ahmad Hardy, whose status remains unsettled heading into Saturday. For a Mizzou roster that has already dealt with its share of moving pieces, the report at least gave a baseline for the week, even if it did not answer every question.
Arkansas has its own injury concerns to sort through, with four players out and three listed as probable, while leading receiver Chris Marshall was tagged questionable. The availability side of the matchup matters here because this is the kind of SEC game where both teams want every edge they can find, especially in the final hours before kickoff. And beyond the injury list, Missouri still has other roster-related issues in the background, including the temporary restraining order extension tied to CJ Gunns eligibility, leaving one more layer of uncertainty hanging over a week already full of it. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Just Got An Ahmad Hardy Twist Fans Have Waited On
Missouri got a small but notable lift on the availability front heading into its matchup with Arkansas, with running back Ahmad Hardy moving from out to unlisted on the SEC Student-Athlete Availability Report. The update means Hardy is technically in play for the Tigers, and it comes after head coach Eli Drinkwitz said the back has returned to practice even though the staff still has no firm timetable for when he will be back on the field.
For a Missouri offense that has been watching its injury report closely, the Hardy update stands out even with three Tigers still listed out. Arkansas has plenty to monitor on its own side, with eight players on the report and wideout Chris Marshall listed as questionable, but Missouris bigger storyline may be whether Hardys return is close enough to matter on game day. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Gets One Last Chance To Clean Things Up Before Opening Night
The preseason tune-up slate across college basketball continues Thursday, Oct. 29, with eight exhibition games scheduled around the country, and there is a little something extra for Missouri fans to watch in one of the more notable matchups. Missouri gets UNLV, which now features former Tiger Sebastian Mack, while programs like Boise State and Northern Iowa also take the floor as coaches look for one more clear read on their rosters before the games start counting for real.
Auburn, meanwhile, closes out its exhibition calendar against Samford with one final chance to smooth out the rough edges before opening night. For a team still sorting through early-season rhythms, these dress rehearsals matter because they offer one last live look at lineups, rotations and conditioning before the spotlight gets brighter and the margin for fixing mistakes disappears. [Read more 🡒]