The Missouri Tigers showed out in their first game of the 2025 College Football season.
The Tigers struggled out of the gate to find their footing with a newly constructed roster learning to sync together as a unit. Once they did, it became a show in Columbia, beating Central Arkansas 61-6.
1-0#MIZ | #STP pic.twitter.com/F6wHmjROpf
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) August 29, 2025
Transfer QB Beau Pribula was the star of the night where he posted 23 completions on 28 attempts for 283 passing yards, and four total touchdowns, good enough for an overall QB grade of 190.6.
He was the talk of college football on Thursday which more than solidifies the QB battle with veteran Sam Horn after his unfortunate leg injury, that he suffered early into the contest.
But every team relies on more than one player to win games.
Mizzou got great production from their running back depth, wide receiver depth, linebacker core, and transfer edge Damon Wilson flexing his talent.
With all that said, one player in particular looks to be poised for a total breakout in 2025, based off of their incredible week one performance.
Wide Receiver Marquis Johnson might very well become the next great Mizzou wide out and SEC star player. Overlooked by the departures of Luther Burden III and Theo Wease, on top of adding transfer receiver Kevin Coleman, Johnson hid long enough to be noticed.
He became the primary target for Pribula Thursday night and ceased the moment.
BEAU PRIBULA'S FIRST PASS OF HIS @MizzouFootball CAREER IS A 51-YARD TD 🎯🔥 pic.twitter.com/i8yPqzM5mU
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) August 28, 2025
He snagged the first catch of Pribula's Tiger career, in a deep touchdown. Lighting struck twice Thursday night when he beat the defense for an even longer reception, in a drive that would end in a Pribula rushing score.
Johnson consistently supported the offense in huge ways, making major catches, and helping to take control of the game, early.
He had 5 catches and led the team with 134 receiving yards with a touchdown, which, after week one, is a close second in recieveing yards in the entire SEC Conference.
The junior's 26.8 average yards per catch was by far the most impressive of the night. His touchdown connection with Pribula became the signature highlight of the contest as it established both players as true threats to what looks to be a stacked conference this season.
The team failed to find consistent deep success and overtake momentum early throughout the entire 2024-25 campaign. But this combo of Johnson and Pribula has already shown that this team is capable to accomplish that feat in a blink of an eye.
The duo will look to continue their dominating ways in what will be one of the most-watched Mizzou football games in years, as they take on their rival Kansas, this Saturday morning from Columbia.