Mizzou Football's Victory over Arkansas Encapsulated the Entire Season: Resilient

Vanderbilt, Auburn, Oklahoma and Arkansas all held fourth quarter leads over the Missouri Tigers (9-1) at Faurot Field this season. None of those four teams were able to topple the Tigers, who ultimately finished with a perfect 7-0 record at Faurot Field in 2024.

While it wasn't always pretty, one thing that cannot be questioned about Mizzou football in 2024 is the resilience it possess.

"We've been down so many times," quarterback Brady Cook said. "I don't know how many comebacks we've had this year, but we just don't flinch. At halftime, you don't even need to say a lot to these guys. Everyone's confident, everyone's calm, everyone keeps believing. I think that's the special thing about our team."

Time after time, the Tigers came through when it mattered most and Saturday against Arkansas was no different.

Trailing at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Missouri's defense took the field and coach Eli Drinkwitz told his unit, "we need a take away."

Johnny Walker Jr. took that literally, attacking the football and forcing his second fumble of the game.

"Coach Drink said we need a turnover, so I thought it would be a good time to give one to him," Walker said.

"I really feel like no matter what happens, we all believe in each other. We got each others back," Walker continued. "Ultimately, it comes down to playing complimentary football."

Complimentary football, indeed. Just a handful of plays later, Marcus Carroll found the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the evening. Both of these runs came on drives following turnovers that Walker forced.

Despite Carroll's second rushing touchdown of the evening giving Mizzou a 17-14 advantage, the lead didn't last long as Arkansas came fighting back late in the fourth.

Trailing 20-14, the Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green linked up with Andrew Armstrong, converting a remarkable fourth-and-8, going for 25-yards and most importantly a first down. Just a couple of plays later Ja'Quinden Jackson ran in his third touchdown of the evening, giving Arkansas a 21-20 lead with less than five minutes to play.

Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, these are the situations Brady Cook has thrived in all season and Saturday was no different.

Cook led his team down the field, finishing off the drive with a 30-yard designed quarterback scramble, which resulted in a Mizzou touchdown and gave the Tigers a 26-21 lead with under two minutes remaining. On the two-point conversion, Mizzou ran a misdirection play where Cook was able to link up with Luther Burden in the end zone, extending the lead to 28-21.

"Good old quarterback draw," Cook said. "You guys have been seeing that for three years with me, and shoot, the seas just parted. They brought a pressure up the middle and Jamal Roberts picked him up perfectly. I just ran up the hash and didn't get chased down."

When the Tigers defense was able to hold on the ensuing possession, Mizzou was able to secure its ninth victory of the season. This is meaningful as the Tigers will now have the opportunity in a bowl game to secure back-to-back 10 win seasons for just the third time in program history.

"I figure we'll finish the season ranked in the top-25, which a step in the right direction," Drinkwitz said. "We want to be a top-25 program every year that contends for championships."

Mizzou's brotherhood has been a point of emphasis all season, and while that brotherhood has been tested time and time again, the Tigers continue to show how meaningful it really is to them.

"I love everyone of my teammates," Walker said. "Everyone helped us get this win. This brotherhood is something special, and I hope other people can experience it as well."

It's safe to say that Missouri football has turned a corner under coach Drinkwitz and the future certainly is bright in Columbia.

Mizzou will find out what bowl game its going to compete in on Sunday, Dec. 8th, after the College Football Playoff committee reveals their 12-team bracket.