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Three things Mizzou football should be thankful for this Thanksgiving

By Thomas Huitt-Johnson

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 16: Truman the Tigers pumps up the fans as they cheer on their team against the Florida Gators in the third quarter at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 16: Truman the Tigers pumps up the fans as they cheer on their team against the Florida Gators in the third quarter at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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The Mizzou football team has plenty to be thankful for. The NCAA is not one of them right now.

The Mizzou football season is nearing an end thanks to the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee. But in all seriousness, the Tigers aren’t thankful for that.

Mizzou does have a number of things it should be thankful for. Some of the players on the field stepped up in huge ways this season. Also, there are a couple rivalries the Tigers can be thankful for, one that possibly could return, and that would be nice.

Here’s a look at three things the Tigers should be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day.

Nick Bolton — Mizzou football had two of the best linebackers in the SEC this season.

When Cale Garrett went down with a season-ending pectoral injury, Nick Bolton stepped up big time. The sophomore is the best player on a tough Mizzou defense and is only going to get better. In a down year for the Tigers, Bolton stepped up and was a huge addition, one the Tigers needed.

Bolton is second in the SEC with 91 tackles. He also has a sack, two interceptions and a touchdown on the season. Mizzou has somebody it can count on next year in the middle of the defense.

Mizzou-Kansas basketball rivalry is back — This is a step toward a football rivalry returning to the border states.

Now that the Tigers and the Jayhawks are playing each other on the hardwood, it’s possible the two teams could meet on the gridiron. Mizzou football wants this game, and it’s very possible the two teams can meet annually. They have a stadium to play at in Kansas City. It’s a money grab for all participating parties. And it’s likely a win the majority of the time for Mizzou football.

It’s something to think about moving forward. One day, these two teams will play again. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

SEC scheduling format — Mizzou football gets Arkansas every year. That’s not a guaranteed win, but it’s as close as one is in the SEC, and it’s the Razorbacks are the worst team right now in the SEC West.

Maybe over the next couple of years Arkansas will get better. But for the past several seasons, all but one season, Mizzou has gotten this win the day after Thanksgiving. The Tigers have taken out the Razorbacks four of the past five years, and three of those game were quite entertaining.

It’s the Battle Line Rivalry, and luckily for Mizzou, “Kansas” is in the name Arkansas. So that helps with the rivalry a little bit. The Tigers should be thankful for that as well.

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