As good as Mizzou football has been in 2025, they have yet to face a true competitor. This has left them near the bottom of the weekly Top-25 AP rankings, and has dismissed them from SEC Conference threats.
That all changes this Saturday night, as head coach Eliah Drinkwitz and his squad continue their long homestead agaisnt their first SEC foe of the year, as they face South Carolina.
The Gamecocks were ranked No. 11 last week, before losing in a blowout to then-unranked Vanerbilt, who moved up to the No. 20 spot in the day's following the contest.
South Carolina clearly suffered in that game, losing their star quarterback LaNorris Sellers early on, and the Commodores took advantage and dominated.
Sellers, a redshirt sophomore and one of the most talented players in the country, suffered a concussion early into the game and did not return.
Initially, it looked as if he wouldn't be able to suit up versus the Tigers, however recent reports have been suggesting otherwise. He's a complete game changer that the Gamecocks need to have if they hope to look anything like the No. 11 team they were in week's passed.
NEW: South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers is trending towards playing Saturday at Missouri, barring a setback, @clowfb & @PeteNakos_ report🤙https://t.co/tlDsePT2qm pic.twitter.com/kGVFDXftGQ
— On3 (@On3sports) September 18, 2025
His game status will be closely monitored by media, and the team will likely have a decision Saturday afternoon, as the game inches closer to kickoff.
At 2-1, the Gamecocks currently sit at 12th in the SEC Conference, but have serious hopes of shaking some things up as the season moves along.
Without Sellers, the offense is heavily relying on a big game from their running backs, specifically senior transfer Rahsul Fasion, who came to the SEC after two monster seasons at Utah State, where he broken 1,100 yards and eight scores last season.
This year, Fasion is averaging five yards an attempt, and is truly looking for more of an opportunity to get involved. If Sellers cannot go, this is the perfect time for him to breakout, and make a name for himself.
Nyck Harbor has done a great job getting involved in the receiving game this year, already nearing 200 yards on the season, which puts him well on his way to breaking his season-high of just shy of 400 yards.
Head coach Shane Beamer, who took over in 2021, has brought pretty nice success to the program in his term, accumulating 29 wins, to 22 losses. His ability to bring the team to a ranking of No. 10 overall is the highest the team has seen since they were No. 9 at the start of the 2014 campaign.
This is a talented program, that has consistently gotten better as the years have gone by. Mizzou fans and players alike know that this team would be ranked top-10 if Sellers hadn't gotten injured, meaning they need to act like this is a game agaisnt one of the best programs in the country, and not an unranked one, because they likely are one of the top teams.
The Tigers were blessed with a late-night kickoff, and skies look to provide some scattered showers, with 70-80 degree weather.
Mizzou leads this series, though the Gamecocks have the last laugh, winning last season and snapping the Tigers's five-game winning streak in the matchup. South Carolina hasn't one at Faurot Field since 2017.
It'll be broadcasted on ESPN, with Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, and Taylor McGregor on the call. The Tiger Radio Network will also have the game with the usual crew: Mike Kelly, Howard Richards, and Chris Gervino.
The ESPN App and WatchESPN, as well as FuboTV will have the game through streaming. It'll also be featured on SiriusXM, with the Missouri broadcast on Channel 81.
Due to uncertaintity with injuries, specifically with Sellers, the betting lines have tightened as the week has gone on, however the spread currently sits at Missouri −10.5, the Over/Under: 48.5 points, the moneyline: Missouri −380, and South Carolina +300.
This isn't being portrayed as the game that it should be. A great quarterback duel if Sellers can go, two of the better teams in the SEC Conference, and maybe even the country.
A great rivarly overall, and a blackout, night kickoff. This will be one of the most exciting games of the season.