To keep the goal of a ten-win season intact, Missouri football must win its final three regular-season games, then finish the job in its bowl game come December.
That push begins Saturday night when the Tigers (6–3, 2–3 SEC) return home for Senior Night to host Mississippi State (5–5, 1–5 SEC). Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m. cst on SEC Network.
It will be an emotional night inside Memorial Stadium, with 20 Tigers taking the field at Faurot Field for the final time. Eli Drinkwitz praised that group — ranging from long-term veterans to impact transfers — and highlighted a Missouri tradition they hope to uphold: if the Tigers win on Senior Night, each senior picks up a rock from the Rock M to be carried off the field by teammates.
Drinkwitz also noted that the program is constructing a temporary Rock M on the hill near Rock A. Levo’s name so Mizzou can continue its Senior Day tradition.
"If you win, you get to go grab a rock and have your teammates carry you off the field," Drinkwitz said after the temporary project was completed.
All signs point toward a ground-heavy approach for Missouri.
Ahmad Hardy, the main Tigers back, leads the conference with 1,046 rushing yards and ranks third nationally. The 303 rushing yards allowed by the Bulldogs defense to No. 5 Georgia last weekend and the multitude of 250+ games of ground yardage by other teams against MSU bodes well on paper for Mizzou.
That plan could ease the burden on true freshman Matt Zollers, who will make his second career start at the quarterback position.
"We’ve got to do a better job of creating some easier opportunities for him to get into a rhythm,” Drinkwitz said when discussing Mizzou's 38-17 loss to Texas A&M. “It’s unfair to expect Matt to carry the load. I’ve got to do my job, and our staff has to do theirs.”
Bulldogs QB Blake Shapen has thrown for 2,234 yards and 15 touchdowns, but exited last week’s game vs. Georgia with a concussion. True freshman Kamario Taylor, a 6-foot-4 dual-threat backs him up and will play if Shapen is unavailable.
After being listed as "probable" on Wednesday however, Shapen was taken off the final injury report completely the next day, meaning the redshirt senior is likely good to go without any restrictions.
Both teams aren't playing for just pride. Bowl eligibility is still on the table for MSU and the Tigers' senior class wants to end their final game at Faurot on a high note. Not to mention, each SEC matchup looms large in bragging rights and rivalries, no matter the records.
Drinkwitz acknowledged the challenge ahead: “They’ve remade their defense. They’re very aggressive. Very attacking.”
Saturday, the historic pursuit of a third straight ten-win season awaits Mizzou, Tiger fans will find out if they have what it takes to pass that test on Saturday evening, from Columbia.