No. 18 Missouri had its chance to keep its College Football Playoff hopes afloat, but a 34-20 loss to No.
7 Texas sent the Tigers to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the SEC. For Eli Drinkwitz, the search for that statement win continues.
The biggest issue was right where games like this are often decided: the red zone. Missouri got inside the 20 three times and came away with just one touchdown, scoring on the opening drive and then failing to cash in on the other opportunities.
Against a team like Texas, that kind of waste comes back to bite you. Blake Craig finished 2-for-4 on field goals, and the Tigers also left points on the field in other ways, including a blocked punt and a muffed punt in crunch time.
Missouri’s passing game had its moments, but it never found enough rhythm. Austin Simmons completed 23 of 43 passes for 252 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, though the numbers could have looked better if not for several drops by the wide receivers. That was especially costly on third downs, where Missouri went just 3-for-16.
The officiating also drew plenty of attention, even if it wasn’t the reason Missouri lost. One of the biggest moments came on Arch Manning’s incomplete pass on a crucial 3rd and 10, which was ruled a fumble for a first down. Texas turned that sequence into a touchdown and tied the game at 20, swinging momentum in a major way.
In the end, the game said a lot about where Missouri stands right now. The Tigers were competitive at home against a strong Texas team, but the mistakes piled up and the opportunity slipped away.
Missouri is 6-3 and having a solid season, but the next step still hasn’t come. And on a day like this, that’s what stings most.
In Other News...
Missouri Fans Have Every Right To Be Furious With The SEC
Missouris latest frustration with the SEC came in the kind of moment that lingers long after the final whistle. During a recent football game, a replay review upheld a ruling that a Missouri forward fumble was recovered by the offense, a decision that kept a Texas drive alive and eventually led to a touchdown. Eli Drinkwitz addressed the officiating afterward, but he stopped short of directly blaming the officials, knowing how quickly that can turn into a fine.
The SEC later issued its own explanation, saying the replay crew did not have clear and obvious video evidence to overturn the call. Even with that clarification, the sequence only added to the sense of grievance around Missouri, where fans were left watching a pivotal possession swing on a review that the league says met the standard but many in Columbia will never view the same way. [Read more 🡒]
Missouri Just Got A Ranking Snub At The Worst Time
Missouris stumble against Texas came with an extra sting on Sunday, when the Tigers fell out of the US LBM Coaches Poll altogether. A week after sitting at No. 19, they are now the second team outside the top 25, a reminder of how quickly one loss can change the national view of a team trying to stay in the SEC race.
The timing makes the drop feel even sharper with Georgia next on the schedule, a matchup that will give Missouri an immediate chance to change the conversation. For a team that had been climbing the rankings, the margin for error is suddenly much thinner, and the path back into the poll now runs straight through one of the toughest tests on the calendar. [Read more 🡒]
Missouri Let A Huge Opportunity Slip Away Against Texas
Missouri had a chance to turn a marquee matchup into a statement win, but Texas kept finding answers when the game tightened. Arch Manning threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns, including the go-ahead strike to Raleek Brown, and No. 10 Texas pulled away for a 34-20 victory over No. 19 Missouri in a game that featured multiple video reviews and the first meeting between the programs since 2017.
Austin Simmons did his part for Missouri with 252 passing yards and two touchdowns, but the Tigers could not match Texas late. The Longhorns made key defensive plays in the fourth quarter to close it out, leaving Missouri to wonder how much different the night might have looked if a few pivotal moments had gone the other way. [Read more 🡒]