COLUMBIA, Mo. — It was supposed to be the night Missouri finally got over the hump — a statement win that would erase years of “almosts” and solidify Eli Drinkwitz’s Tigers as a legitimate SEC power. Instead, it turned into yet another chapter in a painfully familiar story.
No. 8 Alabama came into Faurot Field and ended Mizzou’s 15-game home winning streak, grinding out a 27–24 victory in front of 57,000 fans who truly believed this was the day things would be different.
For Missouri, it wasn’t.
Despite a late rally that gave the Tigers one final chance, quarterback Beau Pribula and the offense sputtered for most of the evening. Pribula threw for just 167 yards, adding a late touchdown to keep hope alive but committing a crucial interception in the final seconds to seal Mizzou’s fate.
The Tigers had every opportunity — including one final possession after forcing an Alabama punt with 1:40 to play. Down 3 and out of timeouts, Pribula converted a clutch 4th-and-6 to push Mizzou near midfield. But as the drive reached Alabama territory, disaster struck again — a hurried throw over the middle that found the wrong jersey. Ballgame.
“Heartbreak and disappointment.” Drinkwitz said after the game. “We didn’t come here to play them close, we came here to win. I’m not good with playing them close…bull crap.”
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was the difference-maker all night. His poise and execution on critical downs were devastating to Mizzou’s defense. Twice on 4th down, Simpson delivered strikes to extend drives, including the eventual game-clinching touchdown that put the Tide up 10 late in the fourth. Simpson made winning plays with the game on the line and that was the difference.
Mizzou star running back and Heisman hopeful Ahmad Hardy was inexplicably limited to 52 yards on 12 carries, his lowest output of the season. Due to his limited carries, the Tiger offense lacked rhythm and consistency and quarterback play was certainly lacking on this day.
“We’ve got to be better and it starts with me.” Pribula would say following the loss.
Perhaps the most telling stat of the night was Alabama’s dominance in time of possession, holding the ball for a staggering 38 minutes to Missouri’s 22. The Tide methodically wore down the Tiger defense while keeping Pribula and Hardy on the sidelines.
The loss drops Missouri to 0–6 all-time against Alabama — a streak that continues to define the program’s inability to slay the SEC’s elite. What could have been a program-defining win turned into another missed chance for a team that’s good, but not yet great.
With the loss, Missouri (5–1) now faces a daunting SEC stretch: at Auburn, at Vanderbilt and top-5 Texas A&M all loom ahead. The College Football Playoff dream isn’t dead, but the margin for error is now razor-thin.
For Mizzou, it was indeed another almost — another night where they believed they could, but didn’t.
