Missouri Tigers climb in AP Top 25 after dominant win over Louisiana
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Missouri rose to No. 23 in AP Poll, No. 22 in Coaches Poll after 3-0 start.
- Tigers' dominant win over Louisiana featured 427 rushing yards and seven total TDs.
- Defense limited Louisiana to 121 yards ahead of next matchup vs. South Carolina.
Missouri’s 52-10 win over Louisiana on Saturday pushed the Tigers higher in the national conversation.
The Tigers moved up two spots to No. 23 in the Associated Press Top 25 and cracked the Coaches Poll for the first time this season, landing at No. 22.
It’s the latest recognition for a team that has started 3-0 behind a balanced offense and smothering defense.
Missouri opened the year with a 61-6 rout of Central Arkansas, then rallied past Kansas 42-31 before Saturday’s showing at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.
Against the Ragin’ Cajuns, running back Ahmad Hardy rushed for a career-best 250 yards and three touchdowns, while quarterback Beau Pribula added three scores of his own.
On the other side of the ball, the Tigers held Louisiana to just 121 total yards and four passing yards.
That followed a defensive performance a week earlier against Kansas in which Missouri limited the Jayhawks’ running backs to six rushing yards.
The 3-0 start has put Missouri in position to keep climbing if the momentum continues. Next week’s challenge comes against South Carolina, ranked in the Coaches Poll at No. 24. The Gamecocks fell out of the AP Poll on Sunday.
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers exited Saturday’s loss to Vanderbilt in the second quarter and failed to return. His status is uncertain heading into Saturday’s matchup at Memorial Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Saturday in Columbia, with the game airing on ESPN.
Copyright 2025 Columbia Missourian
This story was originally published September 15, 2025 at 1:34 PM with the headline "Missouri Tigers climb in AP Top 25 after dominant win over Louisiana."