The Missouri Tigers walked into College Station on Saturday hoping to solidify their place among the SEC’s elite. Instead, they left Kyle Field reeling after a 41-10 blowout at the hands of Texas A&M, a performance that exposed glaring issues on both sides of the ball. The Aggies, who averaged an astonishing 9.4 yards per play, dominated from start to finish, leaving the Tigers searching for answers ahead of a daunting upcoming schedule.
Mizzou’s struggles were apparent from the opening whistle. Texas A&M gashed the Tigers’ defense for 563 total yards, effectively moving the ball at will. Missouri, unable to find any rhythm on offense, found themselves down 24-0 by halftime, making it clear that the game was out of reach early. Brady Cook, the Tigers’ starting quarterback, struggled to find consistency, finishing with just 183 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and an interception. More concerning, Cook failed to get the ball to his top weapons—Theo Wease Jr. and Luther Burden—who were barely factors in the game, a troubling trend for an offense that was once known for its explosive potential.
Drinkwitz speaks on the loss
“I didn’t see anything to the film that told me we had a lack of effort,” head coach Eli Drinkwitz said following the loss. “I’m keenly aware to look for that because that would tell me there’s a deeper issue.”
While effort may not have been the issue, the Tigers’ execution certainly was. Defensively, Missouri had no answers for Texas A&M’s relentless attack, and their inability to make in-game adjustments proved costly. The Aggies dominated on the ground, through the air, and in terms of tempo, keeping the Tigers on their heels all afternoon.
Cook’s inability to get the ball to elite talents like Wease and Burden is particularly alarming for Missouri. Last season, the Tigers’ offense was among the most feared in the SEC, with the same core players making highlight-reel plays seemingly every week. This year, the chemistry and spark that once ignited their attack have been missing, leaving the Tigers searching for a way to rediscover their identity.
With the loss, Missouri’s record drops to 4-1 (1-1 SEC), and the road ahead will determine this season’s fate. The Tigers will face Auburn, Alabama, and Oklahoma in the coming weeks after a get-right game for this Saturday in Amherst against UMass, Mizzou’s season is now at a crossroads. A loss in any of the upcoming SEC games could derail grandiose goals the were set before the season.
Top 10 teams faltering
However, Missouri can take solace in the fact that other top-ranked teams like Tennessee, Alabama, and Michigan also faltered over the weekend. The Tigers still have plenty of football left to play, but it will take a significant turnaround for them to salvage their season and live up to the high expectations that surrounded the program just a few weeks ago.
For now, it’s back to the drawing board for Drinkwitz and his coaching staff. Mizzou needs to find a way to get their offensive stars more involved, tighten up a defense that looked lost in College Station, and regain the confidence that seems to have slipped away. Time is ticking, but the Tigers still control their own destiny—for now.
