Missouri football vs. BYU: Three-minute preview
When/where: 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium
TV/radio: SEC Network; KMBZ (98.1 FM)
The series: BYU leads 1-0
The line: BYU by 6
What’s at stake
Missouri is trying to snap a four-game losing streak and move closer to bowl eligibility for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons. The Tigers are 13-5 playing at NFL stadiums during Gary Pinkel’s tenure, including a 12-1 regular-season mark.
Cheers if ...
Missouri comes out energetic and focused. With the chaos on campus this week, including the Tigers’ solidarity strike, there were plenty of things to distract from preparing to play BYU. The Cougars will pounce if the Tigers aren’t prepared.
Jeers if ...
Missouri’s offense continues to flounder. The Tigers rediscovered the run game in a loss last Thursday against Mississippi State. Offensive coordinator Josh Henson would be wise to build off that or risk another game without a touchdown.
Tod Palmer’s pick: BYU 24-16
BYU and Missouri have one common opponent. The Tigers narrowly beat Connecticut 9-6 on Sept. 19, while the Cougars roughed up the Huskies 30-13 on Oct. 2. BYU is battled-tested, though the schedule has lightened considerably in recent weeks.
MISSOURI (4-5, 1-5 SEC)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Sept. 5 | Southeast Missouri | W, 34-3 |
Sept. 12 | at Arkansas State | W, 27-20 |
Sept. 19 | Connecticut | W, 9-6 |
Sept. 26 | at Kentucky | L, 21-13 |
Oct. 3 | South Carolina | W, 24-10 |
Oct. 10 | Florida | L, 21-3 |
Oct. 17 | at Georgia | L, 9-6 |
Oct. 24 | at Vanderbilt | L, 10-3 |
Nov. 5 | Mississippi State | L, 31-13 |
Saturday | vs. BYU (at Arrowhead Stadium) | 6:30 p.m. |
Nov. 21 | Tennessee | 6:15 p.m. |
Nov. 27 | at Arkansas | 1:30 p.m. |
BYU (7-2)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Sept. 5 | at Nebraska | W, 33-28 |
Sept. 12 | Boise State | W, 35-24 |
Sept. 19 | at UCLA | L, 24-23 |
Sept. 26 | at Michigan | L, 31-0 |
Oct. 2 | Connecticut | W, 30-13 |
Oct. 10 | East Carolina | W, 45-38 |
Oct. 16 | Cincinnati | W, 38-24 |
Oct. 24 | Wagner | W, 70-6 |
Nov. 6 | at San Jose State | W, 17-16 |
Saturday | vs. Missouri (at Arrowhead Stadium) | 6:30 p.m. |
Nov. 21 | Fresno State | 2 p.m. |
Nov. 28 | at Utah State | 2:30 p.m. |
Three things about BYU
1 Quarterback Tanner Mangum tied the BYU freshman record with his 15th touchdown pass last week against San Jose State. He’s 179 of 282 for 2,198 yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions and isn’t much of a running threat.
2 BYU senior Mitch Mathews is the kind of big wide receiver that has troubled Missouri at times. Mathews (6-6, 215) has a reception in 33 straight games, including 40 catches for 499 yards and nine touchdowns this season. His nine TDs are tied for ninth nationally.
3 BYU defeated Missouri in the programs’ only previous meeting in the 1983 Holiday Bowl. Future Hall of Famer quarterback Steve Young ran and passed for a touchdown and also caught the game-winner in a 21-17 victory during the final minute.
Key matchup
Missouri offensive line vs. BYU pass rush: The Cougars are tied for sixth in the nation, averaging 3.3 sacks per game. Senior defensive end Bronson Kaufusi, who has six sacks this season, leads the charge against Tigers quarterback Drew Lock, who’s been sacks 18 times in five starts.
MISSOURI OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 6 | J’Mon Moore | 6-3 | 190 | So. |
WR | 2 | Nate Brown | 6-3 | 205 | So. |
LT | 60 | Connor McGovern | 6-4 | 305 | Sr. |
LG | 55 | Nate Crawford | 6-5 | 310 | So. |
C | 77 | Evan Boehm | 6-3 | 310 | Sr. |
RG | 73 | Mitch Hall | 6-5 | 310 | Sr. |
RT | 62 | Taylor Chappell | 6-5 | 305 | Sr. |
TE | 80 | Sean Culkin | 6-6 | 245 | Jr. |
WR | 18 | Wesley Leftwich | 6-1 | 205 | Sr. |
QB | 3 | Drew Lock | 6-4 | 205 | Fr. |
RB | 32 | Russell Hansbrough | 5-9 | 195 | Sr. |
K | 99 | Andrew Baggett | 6-1 | 215 | Sr. |
MISSOURI DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 56 | Walter Brady | 6-3 | 255 | Fr. |
DT | 97 | Josh Augusta | 6-4 | 345 | Jr. |
NG | 79 | Terry Beckner Jr. | 6-4 | 300 | Fr. |
DE | 91 | Charles Harris | 6-3 | 255 | So. |
LB | 10 | Kentrell Brothers | 6-1 | 235 | Sr. |
LB | 30 | Michael Scherer | 6-3 | 230 | Jr. |
LB | 25 | Donavin Newsom | 6-2 | 230 | Jr. |
CB | 7 | Kenya Dennis | 5-11 | 200 | Sr. |
S | 22 | Anthony Sherrils | 6-0 | 190 | So. |
S | 20 | Ian Simon | 6-0 | 195 | Sr. |
CB | 11 | Aarion Penton | 5-10 | 190 | Jr. |
P | 26 | Corey Fatony | 5-11 | 185 | Fr. |
BYU OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 10 | Mitch Mathews | 6-6 | 215 | Sr. |
WR | 19 | Devin Blackmon | 6-0 | 187 | Sr. |
LT | 75 | Brad Wilcox | 6-7 | 287 | Jr. |
LG | 54 | Parker Dawe | 6-3 | 295 | Jr. |
C | 56 | Tejan Koroma | 6-0 | 290 | So. |
RG | 78 | Tuni Kaunch | 6-3 | 330 | So. |
RT | 71 | Austin Hoyt | 6-8 | 270 | Fr. |
TE | 44 | Remington Peck | 6-4 | 275 | Sr. |
HB | 87 | Mitchell Juergens | 5-10 | 182 | Jr. |
QB | 12 | Tanner Mangum | 6-3 | 210 | Fr. |
RB | 24 | Algernon Brown | 6-1 | 235 | Jr. |
K | 27 | Trevor Samson | 5-11 | 177 | Sr. |
BYU DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 90 | Bronson Kaufusi | 6-8 | 280 | Sr. |
NT | 91 | Travis Tuiloma | 6-2 | 300 | Jr. |
DE | 62 | Logan Taele | 6-2 | 293 | Sr. |
LB | 4 | Fred Warner | 6-4 | 225 | So. |
LB | 21 | Harvey Langi | 6-3 | 240 | Jr. |
LB | 43 | Jherremya Leuta-Douyere | 6-0 | 230 | Sr. |
LB | 31 | Sae Tautu | 6-4 | 246 | Jr. |
CB | 7 | Micah Hannemann | 6-0 | 200 | So. |
FS | 12 | Kai Nacua | 6-2 | 213 | Jr. |
SS | 30 | Michael Wadsworth | 6-2 | 221 | Sr. |
CB | 15 | Michael Davis | 6-2 | 195 | Jr. |
P | 31 | Jonny Linehan | 6-0 | 195 | Jr. |
Tod Palmer: 816-234-4389, @todpalmer
This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 1:56 PM with the headline "Missouri football vs. BYU: Three-minute preview."