Mizzou Bowl Game History

With the Independence Bowl starting in about three hours lets take a look back at Mizzou’s bowl game history and how they got to this point.

Since 1924 Mizzou has played in 28 bowl games and compiled a 12-16 record in bowl games. The first of which being the Los Angeles Christmas Festival Bowl against the USC Trojans where they suffered a 20-7 loss. Losing became a common bowl game pattern for the Tigers, they lost their first 7 bowl games ranging for 1924-1959. It was immediately followed by their longest bowl game win streak of 4 bowls from 1961-1968.

Most recently, the Tigers went up against the Iowa Hawkeyes last season in the Insight Bowl where despite being a 3 point favorite they lost 27-24. Blaine Gabbert’s late game comeback fell short against Iowa’s hard hitting ground game that ended up earning running backs Marcus Coker and Micah Hyde MVP honors.

In Mizzou’s short bowl game history they have played in four Orange Bowls, three Gator Bowls, two Sugar Bowls, two Cotton Bowls, two Sun Bowls, two Holiday Bowls, and tonight will make it three Independence Bowls. The Tigers made an appearance in the Independence Bowl in 2003 and 2005.

The 2003 Independence Bowl was a 14-27 27-14 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks. The 2005 Independence Bowl ended in Mizzou’s favor however with a 38-31 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. The game featured Mizzou’s classic comeback style. They overcame a 21-0 deficit late in the first quarter. Quarterback Brad Smith and cornerback Marcus King went on to be named the offensive and defensive players of the game.

Although Mizzou has an overall losing record in bowl games they have gone 3-3 in the last six years. Today they have the opportunity to come one game closer to a winning bowl game record and end their Big 12 era on a positive note.