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Here are the top-10 opening games for Mizzou football

By Thomas Huitt-Johnson

COLUMBIA, MO - SEPTEMBER 01: Defensive back Andrew Horton-Martindale #21 of the Tennessee Martin Skyhawks breaks up a pass intended for tight end Albert Okwuegbunam #81 of the Missouri Tigers during the game at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO - SEPTEMBER 01: Defensive back Andrew Horton-Martindale #21 of the Tennessee Martin Skyhawks breaks up a pass intended for tight end Albert Okwuegbunam #81 of the Missouri Tigers during the game at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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No. 4 — 2007

Missouri 40, Illinois 34

The year before 2008, Missouri and Illinois met in a thriller. Unlike in 2008, neither team had high expectations from those outside, but what occurred in 2007 showed that both teams would have good years.

Missouri held off a tough Illinois team in the final seconds, as Pig Brown grabbed an interception at the 1-yard line to seal the six-point victory.

Chase Daniel threw three TDs in the game that was the first step to a Cotton Bowl championship. Illinois went on to compete in the Rose Bowl.

No. 3 — 1960

Missouri 20, SMU 0

Missouri finished undefeated and knocked off No. 5 Navy in the Orange Bowl, but it didn’t win the national championship.

After a shutout over the Mustangs, Missouri continued to beat teams all the way up to Week 10, where it lost to Kansas, a mark that eventually was overturned because the Jayhawks used an ineligible player in art Coan. Missouri finished fifth in the AP poll.

No. 2 — 1978

Missouri 3, No. 5 Notre Dame 0

The Tigers were a 19-point underdog, but the Fighting Irish couldn’t even score a point.

Under first-year coach Warren Powers, Mizzou shocked the college football world with the upset over the consensus national champion from the year before.

Missouri jumped to No. 11 in the poll and finished the year with a Liberty Bowl victory over LSU.

The win came against future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, but not only him. Mizzou also beat former Tigers coach Dan Devine that night, who was the head coach at Notre Dame for six seasons.

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