Mizzou football at Oklahoma: Five things to know about top-25 matchup in Norman
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Mizzou travels to Norman to face No. 8 Oklahoma in a hostile SEC road test.
- Oklahoma enters 8-2 after defensive resurgence highlighted by Bowen’s pick-six.
- Tigers enter at No. 23 in AP Top 25, winning last week’s home finale.
Mizzou football has officially closed out its home schedule.
Its next test will be one of the toughest road environments in the SEC.
The Tigers are heading to Norman, Oklahoma, this weekend to face the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners. At 8-2 (4-2 SEC), coach Brent Venables’ Sooners have shown great improvement after finishing 6-7 last season.
Oklahoma made the headlines in last week’s slate with its takedown of No. 4 Alabama, with a strong defense that was highlighted by Eli Bowen’s 87-yard interception return for a touchdown.
The ranked-once-again Tigers enter at No. 23 in the AP Poll this week, coming off a 49-27 win against Mississippi State.
“You know, it’s been 59 years since the University of Missouri went on the road to Norman, Oklahoma, and won a game,” head coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “So that’s something that’s going to be a challenging in and of itself. Our team has a lot of things to work on this week, and ultimately, it’s about how we handle the noise, the environment, taking care of the football and being able to defend their quarterback that will determine our success.”
Here’s what else to know before kickoff...
Mizzou football vs. Oklahoma: Game details
Kickoff: 11 a.m. Saturday
Where: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
TV: ABC
Radio: KMBZ (980) in Kansas City, KCMQ (96.7 or 103.1) in Columbia
Betting line: Oklahoma is a 7.5-point favorite.
Five things to know before kickoff
1. Could we see Beau Pribula this weekend? Drinkwitz said Tuesday that he still anticipates Matt Zollers as Saturday’s starter, but Pribula was listed as doubtful in last week’s availability report. He has been cleared to practice with limitations.
2. Last time out ... If it does end up being Zollers on Saturday, there’s at least a good omen from last season’s Mizzou-Oklahoma matchup. Backup Drew Pyne led the Tigers to a win against Oklahoma in place of injured starter Brady Cook. It’s a different year, with different players, but Zollers does have a success story he can look back on.
3. Bad news for Mizzou: This run defense is good. Oklahoma might be one of the best defenses the Tigers have seen this year. The Sooners rank in the top 5 of yards allowed per game and lead the SEC in limiting opponents to 82.2 rushing yards per game. Mizzou’s Ahmad Hardy is fresh off a 300-yard performance against Mississippi State. Can we call this an unstoppable force vs. an immovable object?
4. Could Missouri find another defensive score? Mizzou’s defense excelled against Mississippi State last week, with two defensive scores off two pick-sixes, in addition to Toriano Pride’s fumble recovery and 62-yard return on a botched field goal attempt. Of note: Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer has thrown seven interceptions this season. Might there be an opportunity for another score?
5. More on Mateer ... The junior quarterback is in his first year at Oklahoma, coming off three seasons at Washington State. He was brought in having the eighth most rushing yards among all FBS quarterbacks in his final season at Wazzu, but it hasn’t been perfect just yet. Alabama was able to limit his deep ball, and so was Tennessee — he didn’t have a pass longer than 25 yards in those games. Can Missouri follow suit?
