In a cruel twist of fate under the lights of FirstBank Stadium, the Missouri Tigers saw their College Football Playoff dreams slip — quite literally — inches away. Down 17–13 to No. 10 Vanderbilt, freshman quarterback Matt Zollers launched a desperate Hail Mary as time expired. Receiver Kevin Coleman somehow came down with it — only to be tackled at the three-inch line, halting Mizzou’s miracle bid and sending the Tigers home with a gut-wrenching defeat.
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz could only shake his head as officials confirmed the spot. Missouri had come within inches of shocking one of the best teams in the country — and keeping its postseason hopes alive.
A Defense That Deserved Better
For all the heartbreak, the Missouri defense deserved a far better fate. Against a Vanderbilt offense ranked top 10 nationally, the Tigers held the Commodores to just 265 total yards and 17 points, with 80 of those yards coming on a single touchdown run. Time and again, Mizzou’s front seven stifled the run, pressured the quarterback, and forced key third-down stops (Vanderbilt was only 3-10).
But in the end, it wasn’t enough. Missouri’s offense — inconsistent and snakebitten by injuries — couldn’t sustain drives when it mattered most.
The Pribula Injury
The most devastating moment of the night may not have been the final play, but rather what happened midway through the third quarter. On a botched fourth-and-goal attempt, starting quarterback Beau Pribula went down awkwardly, dislocating his ankle in a gruesome scene that silenced the Mizzou sideline. Trainers rushed to his side as teammates huddled around in disbelief.
Pribula had been struggling to find a hot hand dating back to the Alabama game and now, it appears, his season is over.
Inches and Errors
This latest loss fits a frustrating pattern for Mizzou — close games defined by missed opportunities. A botched field goal attempt an inability to capitalize on A second-half Vandy turnover loom large as The Tigers have now dropped a close game against a top-10 foe.
At 6–2, the margin for error is gone. To keep any hope of a playoff berth alive, Missouri must win four straight — and do it without their starting quarterback and without a reliable kicker.
The Road Ahead
The schedule offers no reprieve. After a bye week, Missouri returns home to face Texas A&M, one of the nation’s most complete teams. From there, the Tigers face a gauntlet that will test their depth, resolve, and belief.
Inches separated Missouri from a season-defining win. Inches now separate them from their dream of playing on the sport’s biggest stage.
But as Drinkwitz reminded his team in the locker room afterward, seasons — like games — are often defined not by how they end, but by how a team responds when everything seems lost.
Next stop: Columbia. Next challenge: survival.
