Missouri Tigers football vs. Arkansas Razorbacks: Time, TV and 5 things to know
Fresh off of clinching bowl eligibility, the Missouri Tigers’ football team is on the road to face No. 25 Arkansas on Black Friday in their last game of the regular season.
Here are details and five things to know about the game.
THE DETAILS
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. Central time Friday
Where: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Arkansas
TV: CBS
Radio: KMBZ (98.1 FM)
The line: Arkansas by 16
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. Ranked foe. The Razorbacks (7-4 overall, 3-4 SEC) have been ranked in the AP Top 25 in seven of 13 polls this season. They were ranked as high as No. 8 and are slotted at No. 25 in the latest poll. Arkansas played an impressive game against then-No. 2 Alabama last Saturday but lost 42-35. The Razorbacks came up short following a failed onside kick attempt with a little over a minute left.
2. Injury updates. In his weekly media availability, which was moved up to Monday because of the short turnaround, Mizzou coach Eliah Drinkwitz said that defensive backs Shawn Robinson and Chris Shearin are both out this week. Drinkwitz also provided an update on cornerback Akayleb Evans, who unexpectedly missed last week’s game against Florida, saying that he has a soft tissue injury. Freshman DJ Jackson started in his place and had a strong debut, faring better than anyone could have expected in pass coverage.
3. SEC honors. Two Tigers were awarded weekly honors by the Southeastern Conference on Monday. Trajan Jeffcoat won defensive lineman of the week and kicker Harrison Mevis was a co-special teams player of the week. Prior to a month ago, no Mizzou players had earned weekly awards this season. But after the team’s first conference win against Vanderbilt, running back Tyler Badie and Mevis got recognition, and Isaiah McGuire was the defensive lineman of the week after the South Carolina win.
4. Familiar faces. There are plenty of names that Mizzou fans will recognize across the Arkansas roster and coaching staff. Barry Odom, who led the Tigers program prior to Drinkwitz, is in his second season as the Razorbacks’ defensive coordinator and associate coach. Former MU linebacker Michael Scherer, who played in Columbia from 2012-16 is in his first year as Arkansas’ linebackers coach after serving as a defensive analyst last season. On the field, Tre Williams has been a key figure on the Arkansas defensive line since transferring from Missouri last spring. He is one of seven Missouri natives on the Arkansas roster.
5. Homecoming of sorts. Friday’s game will mark Drinkwitz’ first return to his home state as a head coach. He grew up in Alma, Arkansas and began his collegiate coaching career at Arkansas State. He attended Arkansas Tech for college. Also back on their home turf will be wide receiver Barrett Banister and Akial Byers, who both went to Fayetteville High School. Banister, a senior, has had great performances against the Razorbacks in past years, extra fired up against his state’s flagship school. He has recorded a career-high six catches for 60 yards in each of the last two meetings.
This story was originally published November 22, 2021 at 3:13 PM.
