Missouri didn’t exactly light up the night in its 27-17 win over Troy, but the Tigers still walked away 3-0, and that’s the part that matters in September. The offense had its rough patches, the game never really felt clean, and yet Missouri found enough answers - especially in special teams - to take care of business against the Sun Belt opponent.
The biggest spark came from DaMarion Fowlkes. With Missouri trailing 10-3 and under 10 minutes left in the second quarter, Fowlkes took a punt back 68 yards for a touchdown to pull the Tigers even at 10-10.
That return shifted the momentum and gave Missouri the jolt it needed. Fowlkes also chipped in on offense, catching his only target for 17 yards.
Brunno Reus did his part in the hidden-yardage battle as well. The Florida State transfer punted seven times, and five of those boots were pinned inside the 20-yard line. He also hit a long of 58 yards, repeatedly helping Missouri flip the field and ease the burden on the defense.
Jamal Roberts gave the Tigers a steadier presence on the ground. With Ahmad Hardy out, Missouri’s rushing attack has been a work in progress, but Roberts delivered an improved showing.
He carried the ball 22 times for 128 yards and scored once, with his touchdown coming late in the second half to push Missouri ahead 24-10. Through three games, Roberts has now piled up 63 carries, 300 yards, and three touchdowns.
It wasn’t the kind of performance Missouri fans were hoping to see, but the Tigers are still unbeaten. Next up is a Saturday night trip to Mississippi State in Starkville.
In Other News...
Missouri Faces Its First Real SEC Test In Starkville
Mississippi States 3-0 start has turned a tricky road game into an early-season barometer for Missouri, which heads to Starkville for its SEC opener with both teams still unbeaten. The Bulldogs earned their place in the AP Top 25 after rallying at South Carolina, and now they get their first conference game at home under Jeff Lebby, where the atmosphere should match the stakes.
For Eliah Drinkwitz, it is the kind of September test that reveals more than a box score ever could. Missouri has navigated the nonconference schedule cleanly, but this trip will ask whether the Tigers can handle a ranked opponent that is playing with real confidence, and whether their own start holds up once SEC pressure starts to build. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Hoops Is Finally Back And November Starts Fast
The first official practices are in the books for both Mizzou basketball programs, and the calendar is about to speed up in a hurry. On the womens side, the Tigers are already looking ahead to an exhibition against Lincoln University before the regular season begins against Howard, while the men have started their own prep with exhibition trips to Kansas State and UNLV ahead of a home opener against Cleveland State.
It is the sort of early-November stretch that gives Missouri fans a little bit of everything at once, with basketball season arriving just as the rest of the fall sports calendar keeps moving. Womens golf added to the upbeat tone over the same span, with two players gaining temporary eligibility and senior Addie Dobson earning the first tournament win of her college career. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Faces An SEC Test Built To Rattle Them Early
Missouris SEC opener sends it straight into one of the leagues more unusual road atmospheres, with No. 24 Mississippi State offering the kind of early test that can expose a team before conference play even settles in. The Tigers have spent practice trying to recreate the sound they expect to hear, working through a setting designed to be loud, distracting and as different from home as it gets. For Missouri, the first challenge is simply getting comfortable before the football even starts.
From there, the focus shifts to Kamario Taylor, who gives Mississippi State a dual-threat problem Missouri has to account for on every snap. The Tigers know their defense will need to manage both his playmaking and the Bulldogs receivers while staying composed in a setting built to rattle visiting teams. It is the sort of opener that can tell a lot about a defense early, and Missouri is treating it like a test of poise as much as execution. [Read more 🡒]