How has Mizzou jumped to No. 6 in the AP Poll after just two weeks of action?
Another game, another shutout, another win, and another week moving up in the AP rankings. The Missouri Tigers continue their dominant start to the season with a 38-0 blowout victory over the Buffalo Bulls.
The previously 9th-ranked Tigers put up over 500 yards of offense, while the defense was equally impressive, allowing just 169 total yards. This marks the second consecutive week Missouri has shut out its opponent, making them the only FBS team to not give up a single point heading into Week 3.
Starting the season ranked 11th, the Missouri Tigers dominated Murray State 51-0 and moved up to 9th after 10th-ranked Florida State was upset by Boston College and Georgia Tech. Michigan's underwhelming win against Fresno State dropped them to 10th, allowing Mizzou to climb two spots.
After shutting out Buffalo, the Tigers jumped to 6th, which is their highest ranking since 2013. Notre Dame’s loss to Northern Illinois saw the Fighting Irish fall to 18th, and Oregon dropped from 7th to 9th after narrowly beating Boise State 37-34. The combination of these losses and Mizzou's pure dominance this season has convinced the Associated Press to move the Tigers up to 6th in the rankings.
Heading into Week 3, the 6th-ranked Tigers will face off against the 24th-ranked Golden Eagles on Saturday at 11:45 AM CST at Faurot Field. This early non-conference game has shaped up to be the first real test for the Tigers, as Boston College comes off an upset win over Florida State and a dominant performance against Duquesne.
The Tigers will aim to start 3-0 this weekend in a matchup that will challenge their front seven on defense, with Boston College averaging nearly 285 rushing yards per game over the first two weeks. If Mizzou can take care of business against a ranked opponent, their ranking could rise even higher.