Saturday, October 26
Lexington, Ky.
6:30 p.m.
University of Missouri
at
Kentucky
Mizzou Football Looks For Bounce-Back Win at Kentucky Saturday Night
10/22/2019 10:15:00 AM | Football
Tigers and Wildcats kick at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network
| Tigers Look for Bounce-Back Win at Kentucky Saturday Night | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPPONENT | LOCATION | DAY | TIME (CT) | WATCH | STATS |
| at Kentucky | Lexington, Ky. | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 6:30 PM | SEC Network | Stats |
#ShowMe Mizzou Game Notes
MIZZOU LOOKS TO REBOUND FROM SEASON'S SECOND LOSS; FACES EAST FOE KENTUCKY
- Mizzou Football (5-2, 2-1 SEC) hits the road for the second of a three-game road stretch as it heads to Kentucky (3-4, 1-4 SEC) for a big divisional showdown with the Wildcats. The game will kick at 6:39 p.m. (CT) on SEC Network with Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic on the call.
- Mizzou will look to get back into the win column, both this season and against the Wildcats. Mizzou is coming off of a 21-14 loss at Vanderbilt last Saturday, snapping a five-game winstreak. The Tigers have also lost four consecutive games vs. Kentucky, including two in Lexington. Three of those four games have been decided by one score, including last year's 15-14 UK win on the game's final play.
A LENGTHY ROAD TRIP
- Mizzou has one of the nation's strangest schedules this season. After opening on the road week one at Wyoming, Mizzou then returned home for its next five games and won all five in its longest home stretch since 1908. It's no surprise then that Mizzou gets a large dose of road games during the season's second half, which began last week at Vanderbilt. This week's matchup at Kentucky is the second of three straight road games for Mizzou, with a bye week mixed in on Nov. 2 before heading to Georgia on Nov. 9.
- The Tigers will go 35 days between home games as they will not be back in The Zou until Nov. 16 for what should be a crucial SEC East showdown with Florida.
- Mizzou is the only Power 5 team to go that long between home games this season and it is tied with Ball State, Northern Illinois and Kent State for the longest such streak nationally this season.
A MEMORABLE HOMESTAND
- Mizzou has a bizarre schedule this season, playing five straight home games from Sept. 7-Oct. 12, matching the longest homestand in program history. The Tigers finished the five-game homestand perfect with a 5-0 mark, including a pair of SEC wins and three wins over Power 5 teams.
- Dating back to Nov. 10, 2018, Mizzou has won its last seven home games, doing so by a combined score of 273-86 (39.0-12.3 avg.).
SERIES VS. KENTUCKY
- Mizzou trails the all-time series with Kentucky, 6-3, and the Wildcats have won the last four meetings in the all-time series, dating back to the 2015 season.
- Mizzou won the first three meetings with UK when it joined the league, winning 33-10 in 2012, 48-17 in 2013 and 20-10 in 2014, winning a pair of SEC East titles in that span.
- Since then, Kentucky has had Mizzou's number, starting with a 21-13 win in Lexington in 2015.
- Last year's game was controlled by Mizzou for much of the contest until a Lynn Bowden Jr. punt return TD with 5:03 remaining got Kentucky back onto the game. TE C.J. Conrad then scored a two-yard TD on an untimed down after a pass interference call extended the game as No. 12 Kentucky escaped with a 15-14 win.
LAST TIME OUT VS. VANDERBILT
- Mizzou Football had its five-game win streak snapped last Saturday with a 21-14 defeat at the hands of Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn. Mizzou pulled even with the Commodores, 14-14, late in the third quarter, but was unable to grab the lead in the game's final quarter as the offense struggled to move the ball consistently.
- With the loss, Mizzou dropped to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the SEC, while Vanderbilt improved to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the SEC.
- Senior QB Kelly Bryant went 13-26 for 140 passing yards and one TD while rushing for 72 yards on 16 carries.
- Junior RB Larry Rountree III had a rushing TD, his eighth of the season.
- Sophomore WR Kam Scott had two receptions and a team-high 69 receiving yards.
- Sophomore LB Nick Bolton made a career-high 15 tackles and matched a career-high with three tackles for loss. He now leads the SEC in tackles per game (8.7) and solo tackles per game (6.0) and is second on the team with 6.0 tackles for loss this season as he is putting together a breakout sophomore season.
- Junior S Joshuah Bledsoe tallied a career-high 10 tackles in the loss.
- MLB Cameron Wilkins tallied a career-high eight tackles with his first career INT, returned 42 yards to set up Rountree's score, while adding a sack.
- Junior DT Jordan Elliott posted a career-high five tackles as well.
- Junior TE Albert Okwuegbunam tallied his 23rd career receiving TD as he is now alone in second place on Mizzou's all-time career TD reception list.
- With nine receiving yards, senior WR Johnathon Johnson moved into sixth place all-time on Mizzou's career receiving yards list with 2,180 yards, passing Martin Rucker (2004-07 – 2,171 yards).
BY THE NUMBERS
- 4: Consecutive games won by the Wildcats in the all-time series as Mizzou looks to snap that streak Saturday.
- 35: Days between Mizzou's next home games as Saturday's tilt at UK is the second of a three-game road trip with a bye on Nov. 2.
- 19-8: Mizzou's record over its last 27 games, dating back to the midway point of the 2017 season. That record is fourth-best among SEC schools over their last 27 games (only Alabama, LSU and Georgia have better records) and tied with Texas for the ninth-best mark in Power 5.
- 13: Mizzou's last 13 interceptions have all been converted to touchdowns, dating back to last year's game at Tennessee. Every interception it has had since that game has been converted to a touchdown, including four pick-six scores.
- 5: Defensive TDs for Mizzou this season, the nation's best mark. Mizzou had a streak of four-straight games with a defensive TD snapped vs. Ole Miss, but did score off of its only turnover forced last week (a third quarter interception).
- 28: Rushing yards needed by junior RB Larry Rountree III to move into eighth on Mizzou's career rushing yards list. He sits just 47 back of seventh place and just 102 back of sixth place.
- 25: Tackles by WLB Nick Bolton over the last two games since MLB Cale Garrett went down with injury. Bolton now leads the SEC in tackles per game (8.7) and solo tackles per game (6.0) this season. He tallied a career-high 15 tackles last time out at Vanderbilt.
- 3.9: The catch-touchdown ratio for junior TE Albert Okwuegbunam. He is averaging a TD every 3.9 catches in his career after hauling in his 23rd last week at Vanderbilt. He is now second in Mizzou history with his 23 receiving TDs, seven behind school-record holder Chase Coffman (30 from 2005-08).
IMPRESSIVE STREAK STARTING WITH 2017 SECOND HALF
- Mizzou's turnaround during the 2017 season is well documented as Barry Odom's team became just the 13th team in FBS to history to start 1-5 and make a bowl game. The Tigers were just the second SEC team to accomplish that feat and were the first team in SEC history to start league play 0-4 and finish 4-4.
- Looking back on that second-half turn-around, the 27 games since the start of the second half of 2017 have showed incredible progress for Coach Odom and his program, one that should paint a pretty vivid picture of where the team is headed.
- Mizzou is 19-8 over the last 27 games, the SEC's fourth-best mark and the ninth-best mark in all of Power 5. Only Alabama (25-2), LSU (22-5) and Georgia (21-6) have better records than Mizzou over their last 27 games. Below is a look at the Power 5 ranks:
| Team | Wins | Losses |
| 1. Clemson | 26 | 1 |
| Ohio State | 26 | 1 |
| 3. Alabama | 25 | 2 |
| 4. Oklahoma | 24 | 3 |
| 5. LSU | 22 | 5 |
| 6. Georgia | 21 | 6 |
| Penn State | 21 | 6 |
| Wisconsin | 20 | 7 |
| 9. Mizzou | 19 | 8 |
| Texas | 19 | 8 |
FOR MIZZOU, INT MEANS TD RECENTLY
- Mizzou's last 13 interceptions on defense have been converted into touchdowns.
- The streak started with DeMarkus Acy's INT right before half during last year's Tennessee game, as he returned 76 yards to set up an offensive TD.
- Since then, every INT has been turned into a TD by MU's offense or defense.
- The Tiger defense has four pick sixes in that stretch (all this season, which leads the nation).
- Last week at Vanderbilt, MLB Cameron Wilkins picked off his first career pass and rumbled 42 yards to the Vanderbilt six-yard line. Larry Rountree III scored on the next play to make it 13 straight INTs that resulted in a Mizzou TD.
NICK BOLTON ENJOYING BREAKOUT SOPHOMORE YEAR
- When Mizzou MLB Cale Garrett went down with a pectoral injury against Troy on Oct. 5, many around the nation thought Mizzou lost its chance to have an All-SEC linebacker this season. But those who thought that haven't been paying attention to sophomore WLB Nick Bolton, who is putting together a season worthy of national accolades at the end of the year.
- Last weekend at Vanderbilt put Bolton's full skill set on display as he made a game- and career-high 15 tackles with a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss.
- Bolton now leads the SEC in tackles per game (8.7) and solo tackles per game (6.0) and leads the team with 61 total tackles.
- Bolton has stuffed the stat sheet all year, posting a pair of INTs, including a pick-six against West Virginia, and 6.0 tackles for loss, second-best on the team behind only All-SEC DT Jordan Elliott.
- Since Mizzou lost Garrett, an All-SEC linebacker, to injury, Bolton has been tremendous posting 25 total tackles over the last two games since Garrett's injury.
- Bolton was the SEC's Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 9 following an incredible performance against West Virginia. He set then-career-highs in tackles (10), tackles for loss (3.0) and added a pair of interceptions, the latter of which was a 20-yard pick six. Bolton was the first Mizzou player since Sean Weatherspoon to record two interceptions in the same game with at least one being a touchdown return. Of course, Weatherspoon is one of Mizzou's all-time greats.
- According to ProFootballFocus.com, Bolton is grading out at a 90.9 for the year and a was a Midseason Second-Team All-American by the national outlet. His 90.9 grade through seven games is the best of any Tiger defender.
JORDAN ELLIOTT DOMINATING THE TRENCHES
- Speaking of players who are grading quite well by ProFootballFocus.com, Mizzou junior DT Jordan Elliott is not-so-quietly putting together an All-SEC type season and maybe one of the most dominant seasons for a Mizzou DT since Sheldon Richardson in 2012.
- On the year, Elliott leads the team with his 8.0 tackles of loss, third-most in the SEC.
- He is grading out at 90.4 for the season, second-best on the team behind only LB Nick Bolton (90.9) and has been one of the SEC's elite interior defenders.
- Elliott is coming off of a career-high five-tackle performance last Saturday at Vanderbilt when he was virtually unblockable.
- He has at least a half TFL in the last six games.
WILKINS WITH STRONG GAME
- Sophomore MLB Cameron Wilkins faces the daunting task of replacing All-SEC LB Cale Garrett, who is out indefinitely following surgery for a torn pectoral tendon.
- Following his first career start against Ole Miss on Oct. 12, Coach Odom and company challenged Wilkins to improve his game, and he responded last week at Vanderbilt. He posted a career-high eight tackles with a sack and his first career INT, which he returned 42 yards to the Vanderbilt six-yard line to set up a score.
- On the year, Wilkins now has 27 tackles (fifth on the team) with 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and an INT to go along with a fumble recovery and a QB hurry.
- He has 19 of his 27 tackles over the last 10 quarters since Garrett went down with the injury.
BLEDSOE EMERGING AS AN ELITE SAFETY
- When looking at Mizzou's vastly improved defense this year, one of the keys to that improvement has been its safety play, highlighted by junior Joshuah Bledsoe.
- Over the last two games, he has 17 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
- He is coming off of a career-high 10 tackles last Saturday at Vanderbilt with 1.0 going for a loss.
- On the year, he is grading out at 70.3 clip according to ProFootballFocus.com, a very good mark for a safety.
DEFENSE IS STRAIGHT SALTY
- Mizzou's 2019 defense has been one of the Southeastern Conference's most pleasant surprises. The Tigers have been dominant on that side of the ball, especially since the season-opener at Wyoming, and the numbers support that. Below is a look at where Mizzou ranks nationally in several categories.
• Yards Per Pass: #5 (5.4)
• Passing Defense: #6 (156.1)
• Yards Per Play: #6 (4.19)
• Total Defense: #7 (270.1)
• Scoring Defense: #14 (16.6)
• Yards Per Rush: #24 (3.22)
• Rushing Defense: #26 (114.0) - Aside from the more traditional metrics above, Mizzou also rates highly in several other key defensive categories nationally:
• Defensive TDs: #1 (5)
• Team Passing Efficiency Defense: #4 (97.99)
• First Down Defense: #12 (103)
• Red Zone Defense: #7 (.643)
• Third Down Defense: #17 (.306) - Mizzou's opponents have reached the red zone just 14 times this year - that's the seventh-fewest nationally and the second-fewest allowed by any SEC team, trailing only Georgia (12 through seven games).
DEFENSE IMPROVEMENT IS STAGGERING
- As we've detailed Mizzou's outstanding defensive numbers this season, it's worth noting that they are even more incredible when looking at the last several years under Coach Odom. Mizzou has steadily improved on that side of the ball each year under Odom, but this year it is finally ranking among the nation's best units. Below is a breakdown:
| Stat | 2016 | Rank | 2017 | Rank | 2018 | Rank | 2019 | Rank |
| Rush Defense | 232.8 | 112th | 159.6 | 58th | 126.5 | 22nd | 114.0 | 26th |
| Pass Efficiency Defense | 123.42 | 39th | 132.17 | 76th | 133.33 | 75th | 99.99 | 4th |
| Pass Defense | 246.8 | 86th | 254.5 | 106th | 262.0 | 112th | 156.1 | 6th |
| Total Defense | 479.7 | 118th | 414.1 | 82nd | 388.5 | 62nd | 270.1 | 7th |
| Scoring Defense | 31.5 | 90th | 31.8 | 97th | 25.5 | 50th | 16.6 | 14th |
| Tackles For Loss | 6.0 | 55th | 7.9 | 9th | 5.6 | 80th | 6.0 | 65th |
DEFENSE FINDING PAY DIRT
- After Cale Garrett's pick-six vs. Troy on Oct. 5, Mizzou now leads the nation with its five defensive touchdowns.
- Mizzou has eight defensive TDs over the last 14 games, including five defensive TDs in the last six games. Mizzou nearly had another last week at Vanderbilt as Cameron Wilkins was pushed out of bounds just six yards shy of pay dirt.
- Mizzou has forced 12 TOs through seven games (1.7/game). The Tigers had just 16 forced turnovers last year (1.23).
- Mizzou has 68 points off of turnovers this season (9.7 per game).
- Mizzou is 21st nationally with eight INTs on the year and the Tigers have converted their last 13 INTs into touchdowns. Garrett leads the team with his three defensive scores - a pick-six vs. SEMO, a fumble recovery in the end zone vs. South Carolina and a pick-six vs. Troy.
- Mizzou's five defensive TDs on the year are already tied for the most in a single season in school history. The Tigers need one more defensive score to set the school record of six. Below is a look:
• 5 – 2019 (4 INT / 1 FUM)
• 5 – 2008 (5 INT)
• 5 – 2005 (3 INT / 2 FUM)
• 5 – 1998 (3 FUM / 2 INT)
• 4 – 2014 (3 FUM / 1 INT)
• 4 – 1979 (2 FUM / 2 INT) - Mizzou's defense has forced at least three turnovers in three of its seven games this season (doing so against West Virginia on Sept. 7, South Carolina on Sept. 21 and Troy on Oct. 5).
TREY, WELCOME TO CLUB 2,000
- Junior RB Larry Rountree III entered elite company during Mizzou's week two game vs. West Virginia. He posted 104 yards on the ground, moving his career rushing total to 2,064, becoming the 18th player in program history to eclipse the 2,000-yard mark.
Needing just 28 games to move past the 2,000-yard mark, Rountree is the fastest Tiger to ever accomplish that feat by games. He is averaging more than 76 yards per game in his career.
He is the fourth-fastest Mizzou player to rush for 2,000 yards in a career, crossing the threshold on his 374th career carry. He trails only Damarea Crockett (334), Henry Josey (293) and Bob Steuber (281). Rountree's 1,919 yards coming into the season were the most-ever by a Mizzou RB in his first two years.
After gaining seven yards early in the first quarter vs. Ole Miss, Rountree moved into the Top 10 on Mizzou's career rushing yards list. He supplanted James Wilder at No. 10 overall, who totaled 2,357 yards from 1978-80.
Rountree continued to climb the charts with a 41-yard touchdown run to open the second half. He then surpassed Ish Witter for No. 9 overall, who produced 2,418 rushing yards from 2014-17.
Heading into Saturday's game, he has a realistic chance if he hits his career single-game average (75.9), to pass more Tigers on the all-time rushing list. He sits just 29 shy of passing QB Corby Jones for eighth place and needs just 102 yards at Kentucky to tie Darrell Wallace for sixth place. Below is a look at the all-time Mizzou rushing chart:
| Rank. Player (years) | Yards | Total Carries |
| 5. Henry Joesey (2010-13) | 2,771 | 395 |
| 6. Darrell Wallace (1984-87) | 2,607 | 574 |
| 7. Tony Temple (2004-07) | 2,552 | 466 |
| 8. Corby Jones (1995-98) (QB) | 2,533 | 559 |
| 9. Larry Rountree III (2017-19) | 2,505 | 464 |
- Among active FBS players, Rountree's 2,505 yards rank 20th and eighth among non-seniors. Among active Power 5 players, his yardage total is 11th and only Vanderbilt's Ke'Shawn Vaughn ranks ahead of him in the SEC.
JAYJAY ALSO HITS 2,000 YARDS
- The nation's best slot receiver may indeed play at Mizzou in senior Johnathon Johnson, known affectionately by his teammates and those around the program as JayJay.
- Heading into Saturday's game at Kentucky, Johnson's career total of 2,180 receiving yards is just 598 away from matching Mizzou's all-time career record.
- With 52 yards vs. South Carolina, Johnson moved over the 2,000-yard mark, becoming the 11th Mizzou player to accomplish that feat. That put him with some pretty elite company considering the likes of Jeremy Maclin, Danario Alexander and countless other WRs set the standard for receiving in the late 2000s at Mizzou
- He currently sits No. 6 on Mizzou's all-time yards chart, an impressive feat considering all the other players ranked among Mizzou's top 11 played in the NFL.
- Below is a look at Mizzou's all-time career receiving yards chart:
| Career (by yardage) | Yds. | Rec. | TDs | Years |
| 1. Danario Alexander | 2778 | 191 | 22 | 2006-09 |
| 2. Justin Gage | 2704 | 200 | 18 | 1999-02 |
| 3. Chase Coffman (TE) | 2659 | 247 | 30 | 2005-08 |
| 4. J'Mon Moore | 2477 | 158 | 21 | 2014-17 |
| 5. Jeremy Maclin | 2315 | 182 | 22 | 2007-08 |
| 6. Johnathon Johnson | 2180 | 153 | 13 | 2016-19 |
| 7. Martin Rucker (TE) | 2175 | 203 | 18 | 2004-07 |
| 8. Victor Bailey | 2144 | 128 | 12 | 1990-92 |
| 9. William Franklin | 2125 | 143 | 13 | 2004-07 |
| 10. T.J. Moe | 2101 | 188 | 11 | 2009-12 |
| 11. Emanuel Hall | 2016 | 97 | 16 | 2015-18 |
ALBERT O SCORING AT SCORCHING PACE
- Stop us if you've heard this before, but Mizzou RS junior TE Albert Okwuegbunam found the end zone multiple times in Mizzou's week two win over West Virginia. He posted touchdown receptions of 26 and 16 yards, good for his 18th and 19th career touchdowns.
- He was named an AP Midseason All-American as well.
- Okwuegbunam's four-yard touchdown snag in the second quarter at Vanderbilt was the 23rd of his career, moving him into sole possession of second place in Mizzou history (passing former Tiger receivers Danario Alexander and Jeremy Maclin). Okwuegbunam trails only Chase Coffman (30 receiving TDs) in all-time Mizzou touchdown receptions.
- Keep in mind, he's tallied those 23 touchdowns in just 29 career games.
- Albert O is averaging a touchdown every 3.91 receptions in his career. He has 18 catches this season and six have went for scores as his knack for finding the end zone is almost unprecedented at Mizzou. Below is a look at Mizzou's top five pass catchers ranked by number of touchdowns, and their reception-TD ratio.
| Player (years) | TDs | Receptions | Ratio |
| 1. Chase Coffman (2005-08)* | 30 | 247 | 8.2 |
| 2. A. Okwuegbunam (2017-19)* | 23 | 90 | 3.9 |
| Jeremy Maclin (2007-08) | 22 | 182 | 8.3 |
| Danario Alexander (2006-09) | 22 | 191 | 8.7 |
| 5. J'Mon Moore (2014-17) | 21 | 158 | 7.5 |
- As you can see, Albert O is scoring touchdowns at an incredible pace. The next-best player among Mizzou's top all-time TD catchers is J'Mon Moore at one every 7.5 catches.
Albert O now has six multiple-score games in his career, the most-ever by a Mizzou TE, passing Chase Coffman who had five. Okwuegbunam tallied his six career multiple-TD performances in just 23 games. Coffman had his five in 50 career games. - Expectations both inside and outside the program are big for Albert O in 2019 – he's been named a preseason first-team All-American by Sports Illustrated, College Football News, the Associated Press and Phil Steele and he also began the season on both the Mackey and Biletnikoff watch lists. He was named an AP Midseason All-American as well this season.
- His full name is Albert Chukwueneka Okwuegbunam, and the Nigerian translation of Okwuegbunam means "Evil cannot bring us down" while his middle name means "God has done wonderful for us."
Players Mentioned
Defensive Back
/ Football
Safety
/ Football
Linebacker
/ Football
Quarterback
/ Football
Running Back
/ Football
Defensive Lineman
/ Football
Linebacker
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Tight End
/ Football
Running Back
/ Football
Linebacker
/ Football
Running Back
/ FootballMizzou Live Pregame Show Presented by Paytient
Saturday, September 20
Mizzou Live Pregame Show Presented by Paytient
Saturday, September 13
Mizzou Live Pregame Show Presented by Paytient
Saturday, September 06
Mizzou Live Pregame Show Presented by Paytient
Thursday, August 28
