Missouri Football: 10 games the Tigers should schedule
By Josh McSwain
In response to a recently published post suggesting 5 teams that Missouri should schedule, I upped the ante with 10. This includes a few old rivalries I would love to see Mizzou rekindle, and some new faces that would add some interesting twists.
Old Rivals
10. Oklahoma State
The former Big 8 and 12 rivals would be an interesting opponent to see again. Most recently, the two played in the 2014 Cotton Bowl, after the Tigers made a surprising run to the SEC Championship Game in their second year in the conference.
It was a tightly contested game, but in the end, Michael Sam forced a strip sack that Shane Ray picked up and took back the other way for the game sealing touchdown.
Overall, the Tigers own a 29-23 edge in the series, but the Cowboys have won four of the past six meetings. Still, it’s always fun when these two get together.
9. Colorado
Another team that the Tigers have seen a lot of is the Buffaloes of Colorado.
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The Buffs rose to prominence under former head coach Bill McCartney in the 1980’s and early 90’s.
However, during the last few years in the Big 12, the Buffs fell on hard times and allowed the Tigers to win the last five meetings between the two, including a 58-0 thrashing in 2008.
Overall, the Tigers lead the series 41-31-3, but no game will ever top the infamous “fifth down” in 1990 which allowed the Buffs to escape Columbia with a win and go on to win a National Championship.
8. Kansas State
When you think of Kansas State football, only one man comes to mind: Bill Snyder. He took over in 1989 and he has transformed the program into an annual contender whence they were a laughingstock.
Snyder led the Wildcats on a 13 game winning streak in the series from 1993-2005, then after he retired, Mizzou got a win the next year, the first of a short tenure for Ron Prince.
Overall, the Tigers hold a large lead in the series at 60-32-5, in large part because they lost only six times in the series from 1940-1990.
7. Iowa State
The “Telephone Line Rivalry” should be brought back.
It all started in 1959 when coaches thought the other team’s coaches could hear them on the other sidelines, even though they couldn’t.
The next year, there were the same problems in Columbia after they were in Ames the previous year.
Thus, the Telephone Trophy was born. The Tigers own the overall series, 61-34-9, and won the last five in the series.
6. Illinois
The “Arch-Rivalry” is an underplayed rivalry.
Both Missouri and Illinois are lacking in a natural rival, so they should be seeing each other annually.
While this is primarily a basketball rivalry, there isn’t a reason why it shouldn’t be played-out on the gridiron, also.
The Tigers have a 17-7 upper hand in the series, which started in 1896, with a 10-0 Illini win. The Tigers have won six straight in the series, ranging from 2002-2010.
Fun Fact: Gary Pinkel never lost to the Illini.