In the Fall of 2011, the University of Missouri announced that it would be leaving the tumultuous confines of the Big 12 for much greener pastures. The allure of joining the prodigious SEC proved to be too enticing to turn down and Mizzou never looked back.
Missouri has seen three different football coaches and athletic directors come and go since the move and the program has, indeed, seen its share of ups and downs. The move has been, if nothing else, a giant financial success as facilities continue to improve each year and the team has won its division twice thus far in nine years.
Top 10 Mizzou Football Moments Since Joining the SEC
1. See you in Atlanta (Mizzou beats Texas A&M to advance to SEC title game, 2013)
The 2013 Tigers came out of virtually nowhere to secure an SEC East crown in just its second year in the conference. The team was 10-1 heading into the final Saturday of the season and needed a win over Johnny Manziel’s Texas A&M Aggies to punch their ticket to Atlanta. With the game tied at 21, running back Henry Josey (who was returning from a devastating knee injury) busted free for a game-winning 57-yard touchdown and thousands of Tiger fans flooded onto Faurot Field to celebrate.
2. Hell’s Broke Loose in Georgia (Tigers upset Bulldogs 41-26, 2013)
The Tigers rolled in to Sanford Stadium during the second week in October undefeated and left Athens with the eyes of the college football nation a little wider. Despite starting quarterback James Franklin’s injury, the team managed to stave off a late comeback attempt as backup Maty Mauk helped steady the ship in route to one of the biggest road wins in program history.
3. Back to Back Trips to Atlanta (2013, 2014)
Granted, they were both losses, but collectively this accomplishment of back-to-back SEC East championships deserves a mention. Perhaps it was the journey that led to the Georgia Dome that was more enjoyable for fans, but programs like Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Kentucky have NEVER made it to this game.
4. A Cotton Bowl Classic (Missouri beats Oklahoma State 41-31)
The 2013 Tigers were a win over Auburn away from playing for the national title, but they did not let that disappointment stop them from showing out in the 2014 Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma State trailed by three late in the game as Cowboy QB Clint Chelf led his team down the field searching for late heroics. Instead, Missouri’s dominant defensive front turned a Michael Sam strip sack with 1:10 to go into a Shane Ray touchdown and a Tiger victory.
5. Missouri upsets the defending national champs (2020)
History will likely show that the 2020 LSU Tigers just weren’t a very good football team. On October 20th, 2020, however they were the 17th ranked, defending national champion LSU Tigers and Eli Drinkwitz’s first Mizzou squad did not have even a modicum of expectations. Missouri held on to win 45-41 in a shootout which helped ignite a fan base that had been quite dormant during much of the Barry Odom era.
6. DGB Picks MIZ (2012)
We all know that this story doesn’t exactly end the way many would have liked, but in early 2012, the Tigers landed the nations #1 football recruit in Springfield, MO receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. Landing DGB was supposed to be the beginning of Mizzou putting the SEC war chest to work as recruiting was expected to bump as a result of the move.
7. Missouri’s romp in the Swamp (2018)
As an up-and-down 2018 seasoned headed to a close, Mizzou was coming off the heels of a last-second, gut-wrenching loss to Kentucky. Not many expected the Tigers to go to the Swamp and beat the Gators, but they did and did it decisively. Barry Odom was able to notch the biggest win of his career to that point as the Tigers emerged with a 38-17 win over the #11 Gators.
8. Road Warriors (Mizzou wins at Florida, Texas A&M @ Tennessee in consecutive road games)
The 2014 Missouri Tigers were not quite as polished and flashy as the 2013 version. This team won, largely, with a punishing and relentless defense). It is certainly no small feat winning at Kyle Field, Ben Hill Griffin and Neyland Stadium all in the same season and they were able to accomplish that in route to a second straight SEC East title.
9. Drew Lock Makes History (2017)
After starting the season 1-5, all hope seemed lost for the 2017 squad. Unbelievably, behind the strong arm of quarterback Drew Lock, the team turned it around and finished the year 7-5. Lock would toss 44 touchdowns that year, breaking the SEC record for a brief time. The record would be broken again (and possibly for good) by LSU’s Joe Burrow who threw 60 in 2019.
10. Rocky Top Thriller (Missouri wins first SEC road game in 4 OT’s)
2012 was a season to forget for many Mizzou fans. A season that started with such promise ended with a thud and no bowl game. sure, the Tigers got their first ever SEC conference win two weeks prior against hapless Kentucky but going to Neyland Stadium and emerging victorious in a 4 overtime thriller against Tennessee was absolutely the season’s highlight.
Honorable Mention
- Faurot Field is sold out for its first ever SEC conference home game (a 41-20 loss to Georgia)
- Missouri blasts Kentucky 33-10 to win its first ever SEC game (2012)
- Mizzou pummels Tennessee 50-17 in consecutive seasons (2017, 2018)
