Oct. 9, 2006
#19/21 Missouri Tigers (6-0, 2-0) at Texas A&M Aggies (5-1, 1-1)
Oct. 14, 2006 — Kyle Field — College Station, Texas
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TIGERS LOOK TO CONTINUE WINNING WAYS AT TEXAS A&M
The 19th-ranked Missouri Tigers (6-0 overall, 2-0 in Big 12 play), make a return trip to the Lone Star State for the second straight week, this time to take on the upstart Texas A&M Aggies (5-1, 1-1) at venerable Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. The game, set for a 2:36 p.m. kickoff, will be televised on ABC.
The Tigers, off to just the 4th 6-0 start in school history, look to follow up a strong overall outing that saw them win a 38-21 decision last Saturday at Texas Tech. In that game, the Tiger defense forced 5 Red Raider turnovers, and converted them into 28 points – with the defense scoring twice on the night.
Texas A&M has won 5-of-6 games to begin the season, with the only setback a last-second heartbreaking 31-27 home loss to the same Texas Tech squad two weeks ago. The Aggies rebounded last week by pulling out their own last-minute comeback win, as they won at Kansas by a 21-18 count after scoring a TD in the final minute.
TIGERS CONTINUE ROLL, HIT 6-0 WITH WIN OVER TEXAS TECH
Mizzou's historic beginning to its season took yet another step last Saturday in Lubbock, Texas, as the Tigers improved to 6-0 to start a season for the first time since 1973 with a 38-21 win over Texas Tech. The win by MU broke an 11-game home winning streak by the Red Raiders.
Entering the game as underdogs for the first time this season, the Tigers took care of business on both sides of the ball, getting key plays all night long from both its offense and defense.
The Tiger defense allowed a season-high 456 yards of offense, but it was still disruptive enough to force the high-flying Red Raider attack into committing 5 turnovers which MU converted into 28 points, including 14 directly by the defense itself, on a pair of interception returns by DE Xzavie Jackson (17 yards) and FS William Moore (22 yards) on consecutive plays in the 2nd quarter. Those big plays gave Mizzou a commanding 24-0 lead at the 11:20 mark of the quarter.
The Red Raiders rebounded to score a pair of TDs late in the 2nd quarter, and pulled to within 3 points as they took the opening possession after halftime for their 3rd straight TD. With Tech's Homecoming crowd in full furor, Tiger QB Chase Daniel engineered perhaps the biggest drive of MU's season to this point, as Mizzou marched 73 yards in 10 plays, and answered with a TD pass from Daniel to TE Chase Coffman from 6 yards out that extended MU's lead back to 31-21, breaking Tech's momentum.
It was the defense's turn again to put its stamp on the game, as it forced the 4th of 5 Tech turnovers, when DT Lorenzo Williams sacked the Tech QB, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Moore. It took the Tiger offense only 2 plays to convert the opportunity into points, as Daniel hit WR Will Franklin on the first play for 36 yards over the middle, and then TB Tony Temple scored from 8 yards out (his 2nd TD of the night) to make it 38-21 and effectively ice the game.
TIGERS MOVE UP TO 19TH IN A.P. POLL, 21ST IN COACHES' POLL
When Mizzou takes the field this Saturday at Texas A&M, it will do so carrying the nation's No. 19 ranking into the game, moving up in the Associated Press poll from the #23 spot after its 38-21 win at Texas Tech.
After defeating Ohio, 31-6, the previous Saturday, the Tigers moved into the AP poll – at No. 25 – for the first time since 2004, when the Tigers were ranked 19th prior to the second game of the year, at Troy. MU began that season ranked 18th in the AP poll.
This is the highest a Gary Pinkel-led Tiger team has been ranked (the previous high was #22 in 2003), and the last time that Mizzou was ranked as high as 19th in the AP poll came back in 1998, when the Tigers peaked as high as No. 13 that season.
Mizzou has played 15 games previously as the AP's No. 19 team, and history hasn't been kind to MU in this position recently, as the Tigers stand just 6-9 overall in those affairs. In fact, MU has lost its last six games as the 19th-ranked team, in a span dating back to 1981. The last time a 19th-ranked Mizzou team claimed victory was in 1980, when the Tigers beat unranked Oklahoma State by a 30-7 count in Stillwater, Okla.
Saturday will mark the 147th time overall that Mizzou has entered a game as a ranked team. In its previous 146 such encounters, MU holds an alltime record of 88-57-1 (.605).
This is the 9th week that Mizzou has been ranked in the AP poll under Gary Pinkel, as the Tigers were ranked for 4 weeks (peaking at #22) in 2003, in addition to the aforementioned 2-week stay in the polls in 2004, and the current 3-week span.
Mizzou has played one time in its history as a ranked team against Texas A&M, and that game also took place in College Station, as the 13th-ranked Tigers lost a 17-14 heartbreaker to 6th-ranked A&M in 1998.
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NATION'S LONGEST WINNING STREAKS |
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| Streak | School | Last Loss | |
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| 13 | Ohio State | 10-8-05 vs. Penn State (17-10) | |
| 12 | West Virginia | 10-1-05 vs. Virginia Tech (34-17) | |
| 8 | Florida | 11-12-05 vs. South Carolina (30-22) | |
| 7 | MIZZOU | 11-19-05 at Kansas State (36-28) | |
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TIGER 7-GAME STREAK RANKS 4TH-BEST IN NATION CURRENTLY
Mizzou's current 7-game winning streak dating back to last season (MU ended the 2005 season with a 38-31 win against South Carolina in the Independence Bowl) is among the nation's best. Entering play this weekend, MU's streak ranks as 4th-best in the nation. Here's a quick look at the longest active winning streaks:
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MU'S LONGEST WINNING STREAKS |
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13 – 1960-61; |
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MU'S 7-GAME WIN STREAK IS 3RD-BEST IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Off to just the school's 4th 6-0 start in 116 years of existence (the program started up in 1890), Mizzou will look to move to 7-0 on the year this Saturday as they play at Texas A&M. Head Coach Gary Pinkel has led MU to a 14-5 record in his last 19 games, and currently has MU on a 7-game winning streak dating back to last season's bowl win over South Carolina.
The current 7-game streak is already tied for the 3rd-longest in school history, and this marks the first time since 1968 that MU has won 7 straight games. A win Saturday at Texas A&M would give MU 8 straight wins for the first time since 1960. The MU record is 13 games spanning the 1960 and 1961 seasons.
MIZZOU 1 OF 2 SCHOOLS IN TOP-15 NATIONALLY IN BOTH TOTAL OFFENSE & DEFENSE
Mizzou currently can boast being only 1-of-2 schools in the nation to have both its offense and defense ranked in the nation's top-15 in total yardage.
The Tigers enter Saturday as the nation's 11th-ranked defense, allowing 255.00 yards per game, while their offensive counterparts aren't far behind, ranking 15th in the NCAA (423.83 ypg). The other team in that club is Clemson, which has the nation's 5th-ranked defense (236.17) and 10th-ranked offense (442.33).
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ALL-TIME 6-0 STARTS AT MIZZOU |
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| Year | Start | Finish | Rank | Bowl Game | |
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| 1899 | 7-0 | 9-2 | n/a | n/a | |
| 1960 | 11-0# | 11-0% | 5th | Orange | |
| 1973 | 6-0 | 8-4 | 17th | Sun | |
| 2006 | 6-0 | ??? | 19th | ??? | |
| % - Won conference championship | |||||
| # - Lost 10th game to Kansas but later awarded victory by forfeit |
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TIGERS ON THE PROWL FOR MU'S 3RD-EVER 7-0 START, & 1ST SINCE 1960
After sweeping through its non-conference season undefeated, Mizzou continued its promising start to the 2006 season by winning its first 2 Big 12 games – 28-13 at home over Colorado and 38-21 last Saturday at Texas Tech. The Tigers are 6-0 to start a season for the 1st time under Head Coach Gary Pinkel, and for the 1st time since 1973 when Al Onofrio's squad started 6-0 on the way to an 8-4 overall mark.
This year's Tiger team looks to start a season 7-0 for the first time since the 1960 Tigers went 11-0 overall (figuring a loss in game #10 that year to Kansas as a win, as KU later forfeited for using an ineligible player). A win for MU Saturday at Texas A&M would give Mizzou just its 3rd 7-0 start to a season in MU's 116 years of football.
The 6-0 start already achieved by Mizzou marks just the 4th time in school history that Mizzou has began a season with 6 straight wins.
At right is a quick recap of the 6-0 starts in school history:
PINKEL HAS WON 14 OF LAST 19 GAMES AT MIZZOU
Mizzou Head Coach Gary Pinkel is in his sixth season at MU and touts a career record of 108-67-3 (61.5%). His career winning percentage of 60.2% to begin the season ranked him 23rd in the nation among active Division I-A coaches with a minimum of seven years coached.
Pinkel, who has led MU to a combined record of 26-16 over the past four seasons (including 14 wins in his last 19 games dating back to the 2004 season finale), and to bowl games in 2003 and 2005, has a six-year record in Columbia of 35-30 (53.9%).
With a team picked to finish 4th in the Big 12 North in 2005, Pinkel's Tigers tied for 2nd place (winning all tiebreakers), and were playing for a chance to share for the division title heading into the regular-season finale. Pinkel has now led MU to two bowl games, and that puts him in select company, as he joins Don Faurot, Dan Devine, Al Onofrio, Warren Powers and Larry Smith as the only coaches to guide MU to multiple bowl games. After beating Nebraska (41-24 in 2005) for the second time in three years, Pinkel became the first MU coach since Onofrio to defeat NU twice.
Mizzou's 34-7 win over Ole Miss drew him above the .500 mark at Mizzou. Pinkel is the first Tiger coach since Warren Powers to have an MU record of above .500 after at least one full season of coaching (Powers left after the 1984 season with an MU record of 46-33-3).
Pinkel has driven Mizzou to a pair of winning seasons (8-5 in 2003 and 7-5 in 2005) in his five previous years at the wheel, with those representing two of MU's four winning campaigns dating back to the 1983 season. With a winning season in 2006, he would become the first MU coach since Powers to have three winning years.
MIZZOU-TEXAS A&M SERIES HISTORY
Mizzou and Texas A&M will meet for the 9th time when they take the field Saturday in College Station, and the Aggies own a 6-2 advantage in the previous eight contests. Mizzou, however, has won two straight in the series, claiming a 33-27 double-overtime win in College Station in 2002, and following with a 45-22 triumph in Columbia in 2003. Those wins evened the series at 2-2 since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1996.
A&M has won 3-of-4 meetings played in College Station, including a 12-0 win there in 1958 and a 73-0 dismemberment of MU in 1993 that is one of the more infamous games in Tiger history.
The 1998 game played in College Station was a thriller, as the 6th-ranked Aggies claimed a 17-14 win over the 19th-ranked Tigers, when a fumbled MU punt deep in its own territory set up a short Aggie game-winning field goal with 90 seconds left.
MU's last appearance in College Station proved historic, as the Tigers claimed a 33-27 double overtime win, as QB Brad Smith snuck in from 1 yard out for the winning score. CB Michael Harden intercepted the Aggies on their OT possession, after the teams traded 40-yard field goals in the 1st extra period. That win gave MU its first ever over Texas A&M, breaking an Aggie 6-game winning streak in the series, and it also came one week after the Aggies had upset top-ranked Oklahoma on the very same Kyle Field.
LAST TIME THEY MET: MIZZOU 45, TEXAS A&M 22 (2003)
Brad Smith bounced back from a four-turnover game the previous week with 136 yards rushing, three touchdowns and no giveaways in Missouri's 45-22 victory over Texas A&M in Columbia on Nov. 15, 2003.
Smith, a sophomore, became the first player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in two seasons and had scoring runs of 7, 19 and 9 yards. Zack Abron had 141 yards on 20 carries with a 2-yard run to break the school record for career touchdowns and scoring for Missouri (7-3, 3-3 Big 12).
Texas A&M (4-7, 2-5) was unable to recover from a 77-0 loss to top-ranked Oklahoma the previous week, although the Aggies ended a seven-quarter touchdown drought with a pair of fourth-quarter scores.
Missouri led 16-0 only 5:34 into the game. The Tigers scored a touchdown on their opening drive for the first time all season, got a safety on Texas A&M's first possession on a low snap to the punter and Abron scored on the second drive.
Abron ended the game with 39 career touchdowns and 234 career points, breaking the records formerly held by Corby Jones (1995-98).
Dustin Long replaced a struggling Reggie McNeal at quarterback in the second half for Texas A&M and threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Tim Van Zant early in the fourth quarter. McNeal had 45 yards on 15 carries and was 6-for-12 for 78 yards and lost a fumble, while Long was 23-for-29 for 252 yards.
Todd Pegram added three field goals for Texas A&M.
Damien Nash scored two touchdowns on runs of 14 and 9 yards in the fourth quarter for Missouri.
Missouri established control early with seven gains of 10 or more yards in the first quarter, three of them in the opening drive capped by Smith's 7-yard scoring run. The Tigers opened the game with a 22-yard run by Smith, a 21-yard carry by Abron and a 16 yard pass from Smith to J.D. McCoy.
Texas A&M's first drive was troubled from the start. Terrence Murphy stepped out of bounds at the 3 on the kickoff return when the ball stopped just before rolling out, and punter Cody Scates took a knee in the end zone trying to field a low snap.
MIZZOU HAS YET TO TRAIL IN A GAME SO FAR
Sales of antacid products like Tums and Rolaids have presumably been low in Columbia so far this fall, as the Tigers have not yet played any nail-biters – winning by an average margin of 22.3 points per game thus far on the way to its 6-0 start.
In fact, the stress level for fans has been very low so far overall, as Mizzou has yet to trail in a game heading into the Texas A&M contest Saturday in College Station. In MU's first 6 games, the Tigers have never trailed, and have been tied each outing only at 0-0.
In all, in 360 total minutes of play so far, Mizzou has held the lead for 331 minutes and 50 seconds. It has been tied for a total of just 28 minutes and 10 seconds of play so far.
FAST STARTS GET MIZZOU OFF TO THE RACES
Mizzou hopes to continue a trend that has seen them jump out to leads right away in its first 6 games. As indicated earlier, Mizzou has not yet trailed in a game, and the Tigers have outscored opponents by a whopping 72-3 margin in the 1st quarter thus far.
Mizzou has gained a total of 915 yards of offense in the 1st quarter, compared to a total of 306 yards for opponents, and opponents had not taken a snap on MU's side of the field, nor had they achieved one first down in the 1st quarter against MU's , until Ohio did in week #4.
Here have been the scores after the 1st quarter in each game so far this year:
• Mizzou 21, Murray State 0
• Mizzou 10, Ole Miss 0
• Mizzou 10, New Mexico 0
• Mizzou 7, Ohio 0
• Mizzou 14, Colorado 3
• Mizzou 10, Texas Tech 0
The Tigers have been very effective in their opening possessions, scoring on 5-of-6 initial drives, including 3 TDs and 2 FGs.
Last Saturday at Texas Tech, the Tigers again won the coin toss and chose to take the ball to establish control of the game (MU has had the opening possession in every game so far this season). The plan worked again, as the Tigers drove down the field on a 14-play, 57-yard drive that consumed 5:27 and ended in a 41-yard Jeff Wolfert field goal for a quick 3-0 MU lead. After the teams traded punts for field position, the Tiger defense came through by forcing the first of what would be 5 Texas Tech turnovers on the night. The offense followed through on their end of the bargain, scoring 4 plays later, and it was 10-0 just like that.
DEFENSE SHOWS RARE FEATS OF STRENGTH IN KEYING WIN AT TEXAS TECH
It's not often that a defense can allow 456 yards of offense and walk off the field knowing it played one heck of a ballgame. Thankfully, it's not often that the Tiger defense will have to face the high-flying Texas Tech aerial attack.
Despite allowing a season-high offensive output to the Red Raiders (which dropped the Tigers from No. 2 nationally in total defense to No. 11 this week), the Mizzou defense could indeed hold its head high, as they came up with huge play after huge play to key the win.
In all, Mizzou forced 5 Texas Tech turnovers, which MU ultimately converted into 28 points. The fun started by forcing a 1st-quarter fumble that the Tiger offense converted into a quick TD for a 10-0 lead, and followed with a pair of pick-sixes on consecutive snaps in the 2nd quarter to vault MU into a commanding 24-0 lead.
The rare feat took place as DE Xzavie Jackson snagged a pass in the air and rambled 17 yards untouched for a TD at the 11:48 mark to make it 17-0. On Tech's very next play, FS William Moore jumped an out route and intercepted it, and he ran 22 yards untouched for a TD to put MU up, 24-0 with 11:20 left.
Oddly enough, the same duo scored defensive TDs on consecutive possessions in a game against Iowa State in 2005. In that game, it was Moore who drew first blood, when he intercepted a Bret Meyer pass and ran it back 62 yards for a TD. Two plays later, on the next defensive series, Jackson picked up a fumble forced by teammate Jamar Smith, and ran it back 16 yards for a TD…
That marked the 4th time in recent school history (dating back to 1940) that Mizzou has scored multiple defensive TDs in a game – and the first time ever it has returned 2 interceptions for TDs. The other instances were in 2005 vs. Iowa State (INT, fumble), in 1994 at Hawaii (INT, fumble), and in 1979 vs. San Diego State (INT, fumble).
Mizzou entered the Tech game having scored 24 points off of 10 opponent turnovers, but the Tigers took full advantage of that category Saturday night in Lubbock, as they scored 28 points off of 5 Red Raider miscues.
MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT FROM MU-TEXAS TECH GAME
• Mizzou was held to a season-low 306 yards of total offense, as it ran a season-low 62 plays on the night. Despite the lower numerical output, the offense still was vital to the Tiger win, as it scored 10 points early in the 1st quarter to set the tone, and it answered resoundingly with consecutive TD drives bridging the 3rd and 4th quarter to put the game out of reach after Tech had seized momentum by scoring 21 straight points to close to within 3 early in the 3rd...
• QB Chase Daniel completed 15-of-22 passes on the evening for 173 yards and 1 TD (1 INT) to lead MU to its first 6-0 start to a season since 1973. Daniel was playing in his home state of Texas, and was also celebrating his 20th birthday. He also gained 60 yards rushing on the night, but after sack losses and other losses totaling 37 yards, his net total was 37 in all...
• Mizzou's defense had many stars on the night, and it was hard to determine just who stood out the most. CB Darnell Terrell led the team with a career-high 13 tackles (film adjusted) and he also broke up 1 pass. He was joined in double figure tackles by senior LB Dedrick Harrington (12 tackles and 1 PBU) and sophomore FS William Moore (10 tackles). Moore might have been the defensive star overall, as he added the key INT return for a score, and he also recovered a Tech fumble at the end of the 3rd quarter that set up MU's final game-icing TD...
• Not to be outdone, LB Marcus Bacon had another productive night, as he turned in 8 tacklesforced a fumble, recovered another, had 1 QB sack and 1 QB hurry. DE Xzavie Jackson might have had the most disruptive 2-tackle night possible, as he added 1 QB sack, 1 QB hurry and his INT for a score to the ledger. DT Lorenzo Williams was in the Red Raider backfield most of the night as well, as he registered 3 tackles, including 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 3 QB hurries...
• P Adam Crossett had his best outing of the season so far, as he averaged a salty 47.5 yards on 4 punts, including a season-long of 59 yards. He also accounted for 3 touchbacks on his 7 kickoffs, and his other kicks were effective enough to help the Tiger kick defense team to limit the Red Raiders to just 19.0 yards on 4 returns…
• More to follow later on both WR Will Franklin and TB Tony Temple, but both had solid nights that resulted in them each reaching career milestones. Franklin was first, as his first catch of the night – good for 20 yards – put him over the 1,000 career receiving yard mark. He ended the night with a team-best 5 catches for 90 yards. Temple, who led MU on the ground at Tech with 76 tough yards on 19 carries, also surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark. Temple scored the 1st 2 TDs of his junior season at Tech, on runs of 1 and 8 yards in the 1st and 4th quarters, respectively…
TEXAS TIGERS HOPE FOR ONE MORE HEAPIN' OF HOME COOKIN'
It's no big secret that the Mizzou coaching staff has put great effort into recruiting in the state of Texas since they came to MU prior to the 2001 season. The efforts have paid off quite nicely, as Mizzou has had nice success in drawing good talent to Columbia from the Lone Star State.
Mizzou opened the season with 25 players on its roster from the state of Texas, more than 4 times the amount of any state other than Missouri, where it had 57 players listed from, to begin the season (Illinois and Oklahoma were represented with 6 players each to begin the season).
And MU hasn't just attracted low-level talent from Texas – 14-of-44 players currently listed among its 2-deep on offense and defense reside from Texas, including six starters (three on either side of the ball – QB Chase Daniel, WR Brad Ekwerekwu, RG Mike Cook on offense and DE Brian Smith, FS David Overstreet and WLB Marcus Bacon on defense).
Mizzou has had 4 true freshmen earn playing time so far this season, and all 4 hail from the Lone Star State – WR Jared Perry, WR Danario Alexander, CB Del Howard and LB Sean Weatherspoon.
Sophomore DE Stryker Sulak grew up nearby College Station, in Rockdale, Texas, and the Tigers even have one College Station native on their roster, in true freshman DL Brant Scott. Scott has not yet played this season, and is likely on the way to redshirting for the year.
Chase Daniel MAKES ONE MORE RETURN TO HOME STATE
The legendary coach Vince Lombardi was once credited with saying something to the effect of “winning isn't everything, it's the only thing.”
With that in mind, winning is about the only thing that MU's sophomore QB Chase Daniel has known. Daniel – who celebrated his 20th birthday last Saturday by leading MU to a 38-21 win at Texas Tech (he was born Oct. 7, 1986) – is currently 6-0 as a collegiate starter.
To continue the theme, however, dating back to his days as starting QB for the powerful Southlake (Texas) Carroll High School program, Daniel has won 37 of his last 38 starts under center. As the starting QB for the Dragons each of his last 2 years, Daniel went 15-1 as a junior in 2003, losing only in overtime in the state championship game. He then went a perfect 16-0 as a senior in 2004, leading the Dragons to a mythical national title, as well as national player of the year honors.
Additionally, Daniel was a starting wide receiver for Coach Todd Dodge as a sophomore in 2002. How did the Dragons do that year? They merely went 16-0 and won a state title.
Add it all up, and Daniel has won 53 of his last 54 games in which he's been a starter. Somehow, we think that Coach Lombardi would be impressed.
TIGER DEFENSE ENTERS A&M GAME AS NATION'S #11-RANKED UNIT
Mizzou's defense, which returns 7 starters from a year ago, has been one of the biggest stories involving the Tiger team through the first 6 games of the 2006 season.
Heading into the Texas Tech contest, MU's defense was the nation's #2-ranked unit, allowing just 214.80 yards per game. The Tigers had ranked #1 in the land before the Colorado game, but they dropped to #2 after the Buffaloes gained 373 yards of offense in MU's 28-13 win.
Texas Tech put up 456 yards of offense (including 378 passing), but still managed only 21 points on the night, as the Tiger defense was disruptive, forcing 5 Red Raider turnovers that MU converted into 28 points (including 2 INT returns for TDs by the defense). That was the first time that Mizzou had forced 5 turnovers since accumulating that same amount on Oct. 11, 2003 in a 41-24 win against 10th-ranked Nebraska.
Tech's output dropped MU's total defense national ranking to #11 heading into the A&M game Saturday (255.00 ypg). But that was a small price to pay as the defense was most definitely a key to the Tiger win in Lubbock.
Mizzou's defense held the Red Raiders on 3rd downs, as Tech managed to convert only 4-of-12 times on the night. The Tigers also sacked Tech QB Graham Harrell 4 times, which was an opponent season high for the Red Raiders.
The previous week against Colorado the Tiger defense stiffened up on the “money downs” of 3rd and 4th down, holding the Buffs to a combined 3-of-17 (3-of-12 on 3rd down and 0-of-5 on 4th down), which was a major reason why MU won its fifth straight game of the 2006 season.
Prior to the CU game, Mizzou had a solid outing against Ohio, as the Tiger defenders allowed just 188 yards of offense, including only 31 total yards in the 2nd half (on 28 plays in all).
The Tigers held New Mexico to 201 total yards on the road (with 66 of those coming during garbage time), and previously held Ole Miss to just 162 total yards in a 34-7 win, and began the year with a stifling performance against Murray State, as they held the Racers to just 150 yards in MU's 44-7 win.
DEFENSE STINGY ON THE GROUND, JUST 1 RUSHING TD ALLOWED SO FAR
The Tiger defense ranks 2nd in the Big 12 Conference, and 10th in the NCAA, in rushing defense, allowing 72.67 yards per game on the ground thus far. Mizzou trails only Texas in the league, as the Longhorns are currently giving up only 51.17 rushing yards a game.
Mizzou has allowed only 1 rushing TD this season through 6 games – tied for least in the nation, along with UCLA, Florida and Ohio State.
The only rushing TD allowed by Mizzou came against Colorado, as the Buffs scored on a 1-yard QB keeper after they hit a 63-yard pass play down to the Tiger 1-yardline.
In 2005, the Tigers allowed 23 rushing TDs (an average of just under 2 per game), including at least 1 in every game but Baylor.
Opponents in 2006 are averaging 2.7 yards per attempt on the ground so far, much improved for MU than the 3.8 yards per carry allowed in 2005.
In its opener, Mizzou permitted just 27 yards rushing by Murray State, and followed by allowing 72 net rushing yards to Ole Miss (which had gained 240 yards on the ground in their season opener against Memphis). The next week, the Tiger defense allowed only 33 rushing yards to New Mexico. They closed out the non-conference season by allowing a total of 43 net rushing yards on 30 attempts (1.4 avg.) to Ohio, before Colorado netted a season-high 183 yards on the ground in 36 attempts (5.1 avg.). Texas Tech ran just 15 times last Saturday in Lubbock, and netted 78 yards total (4.9 avg.).