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Mizzou football: Tigers fall below .500 with loss to Tennessee

By Thomas Huitt-Johnson

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 23: Tight end Niko Hea #48 of the Missouri Tigers catches a pass against defensive back Bryce Thompson #20 of the Tennessee Volunteers in the third quarter at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 23: Tight end Niko Hea #48 of the Missouri Tigers catches a pass against defensive back Bryce Thompson #20 of the Tennessee Volunteers in the third quarter at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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The loss isn’t shocking, but the fact that Mizzou football has fallen to fifth (and possibly sixth) in the SEC East is.

Mizzou football dropped its fifth straight game of the season, losing to Tennessee on senior night 24-20 at Faurot Field.

The Tigers were without three starters, including tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, wide receiver Johnathon Johnson and cornerback DeMarkus Acy. Those losses showed on Saturday night, especially the absence of Acy.

Mizzou’s defense was torched for more than 400 yards passing, and all three of Tennessee’s top receivers went for more than 100 yards receiving — a school record.

The Tigers never really showed they were better than their opponent, and they used a couple trick plays to try to keep up with the Volunteers. They were successful, but in the end, it didn’t help.

Mizzou’s second touchdown of the night came on a pass from receiver Micah Wilson (former quarterback) to tailback Tyler Badie, a score that tied the game at 17 in the third quarter. But Tennessee took the lead back minutes later on a 17-yard touchdown by Marquez Callaway, so the Tigers were going to need another touchdown. They didn’t get that.

Tucker McCann finished off a nine-play drive with a 33-yard field goal. Mizzou forced a punt, but the Tigers couldn’t move the offense, and instead of going for a fourth-and-short, coach Barry Odom decided to punt the ball back to Tennessee in hopes of another stop. The Tigers defense didn’t deliver, and now Mizzou sits at 5-6.

Mizzou football plays Arkansas in their annual after-Thanksgiving Day game. If Mizzou pulls out the win, it will be 6-6, good enough for a bowl. The fact that it will take until after Thanksgiving to pick up enough wins to become eligible is insane.

Yes, Mizzou had high expectations — most people thought the Tigers were closer to 10 wins this year than five. But it’s shocking that they aren’t eligible yet because they were 5-1 with several beatable teams on the schedule. Mizzou hasn’t beaten one since homecoming.

Next up is Arkansas in Little Rock. The Razorbacks are 2-9 and just lost to LSU 56-20. Some might say this game is a toss up.

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