Mizzou snaps five-game losing streak at Arkansas. Now, all eyes are on Odom’s future
They came in riding a five-game losing streak with plenty of low points, but the Missouri Tigers salvaged a positive in Little Rock on Friday: a 24-14 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks in both teams’ season finale.
The Tigers won their first game since Oct. 12, finishing the year 6-6 at War Memorial Stadium. That six-win mark won’t come with a bowl game, though, after the NCAA denied Missouri’s appeal on Tuesday.
Instead, Mizzou coach Barry Odom faces questions about his job security after the Tigers slumped badly down the stretch this year.
“No idea,” Odom said when asked about his future. “I’m just going to wake up in the morning and go to work.”
On Friday, MU battled injuries all game, including to starting quarterback Kelly Bryant, who was dealing with knee and hamstring issues and didn’t play. With Bryant ailing, the Tigers turned to freshman Connor Bazelak, who made his first career start.
Bazelak impressed, completing 7 of 9 passes for 80 yards before a right knee injury knocked him out of the game, too. The true freshman preserved his redshirt, playing in just three games this year. NCAA rules allow a maximum of four games played before a redshirt is removed.
Taylor Powell relieved the injured Bazelak. Powell had some bright moments, including his first career touchdown on a pass to Jonathan Nance. A Fayetteville, Ark., native, Powell finished 8 of 14 for 105 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
While the Tigers were forced to turn to Powell, wide receiver Barrett Banister had a career game. Another Fayetteville native, Banister caught six passes for 60 yards, both career highs. He was a bright spot for Mizzou, converting three third downs on the Tigers’ first touchdown drive.
The defense also had a solid day against depleted Arkansas. The Hogs started their fifth quarterback of the season in Jack Lindsey. While Lindsey had some success, throwing two touchdown passes, he also struggled to figure out MU, completing just 10 of 26 passes for 75 yards.
The Razorbacks’ highlight Friday was Rakeem Boyd: The “Last Chance U” star finished with 95 yards rushing.
“Just a great team effort,” Odom said. “It wasn’t pretty, we all know that. But it was a win, and I’ll take as many of those as we can get.”
The Tigers — once 5-1 and ranked No. 22 in the country — collapsed under Odom’s watch this season. Last December, he received a contract extension through the 2024 season that raised his salary to $3.05 million per year — still the lowest in the Southeastern Conference.
With Friday’s win, Odom is 25-25 in four seasons since succeeding Gary Pinkel in Columbia.
Over the summer, Mizzou appealed the NCAA’s January ruling that penalized the Tigers’ football, baseball and softball teams for the actions of former tutor Yolanda Kumar, including her admission that she completed coursework for 12 MU student-athletes.
The NCAA’s punishment of Mizzou, upheld when the school’s appeal was turned down Tuesday, includes a postseason ban, loss of scholarships and monetary fines.
This story was originally published November 29, 2019 at 5:18 PM.