SETTING THE SCENE
The 13th-ranked Mizzou football team (5-1, 2-1 SEC) is set to visit No. 9 Ole Miss (4-1, 2-1 SEC) on Saturday, October 17 (2:30 p.m. CT / SEC Network) at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. The Tigers earned their second-consecutive SEC victory with a 27-6 win over Texas A&M in Columbia on Oct. 10, led by Jamal Roberts’ career-high 222 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Roberts was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week in addition to receiving Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week and Maxwell National Player of the Week honors.

THE COACHES
Already No. 4 on Mizzou's all-time wins list, Eli Drinkwitz is in his seventh season as Mizzou’s head coach and enters Saturday with a 51-30 mark (63-31 overall). The Alma, Arkansas, native has led the Tigers to bowl eligibility in each of his first six seasons in Columbia, making him the only MU head coach in program history to achieve that feat. Prior to taking the Mizzou job, Drinkwitz was 12-1 in his lone season as head coach at Appalachian State (2019). Drinkwitz boasts the best home winning percentage (min. four seasons) in program history at .804 and is 37-9 on Faurot Field during his tenure. Since the start of 2023, Drinkwitz and the Tigers have gone 34-11 (.756) - tied for 12th-best nationally over that stretch.

Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding is in his first full season leading the Rebels, having guided Ole Miss to a 6-2 record since taking over in November 2025. The Rebels are 4-1 overall and 2-1 in SEC play in 2026. Golding led Ole Miss to wins over Tulane and Georgia during the program’s first College Football Playoff appearance, advancing to the semifinals to cap the 2025 season. Prior to becoming head coach, Golding spent three seasons as the Rebels’ defensive coordinator from 2023-25. His 2024 defense led the nation in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120), setting program records in both categories, while ranking second nationally in rushing defense. Golding previously spent five seasons on Alabama’s defensive staff from 2018-22, helping the Crimson Tide win three SEC championships and the 2020 national championship. He also coached at UTSA, Southern Miss, Southeastern Louisiana, Delta State and Tusculum.

FIRST & TEN: STORYLINES
- The Tigers are 34-11 since the start of 2023 (.756) - tied for 12th-best nationally over that stretch by winning percentage.
- Mizzou extended its winning streak against unranked opponents to 28 games with its win over Texas A&M on Oct. 10. The 28-game streak is the second-longest such winning streak in the country over unranked teams.
- Mizzou checks in at No. 13 in the latest editions of the national polls (Oct. 11). The Tigers peaked at No. 14 in the AP Poll on Oct. 5 last season. No. 13 in this week's AP Poll is the highest ranking since the Tigers came in at No. 9 in the Sept. 29, 2024, edition of the poll.
- MU will be seeking its 11th victory all-time on the road against an AP top-10 foe. A win would also mark the first time the Tigers took down two AP top-10 opponents in the same season since 1978 when they defeated No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 2 Nebraska - both on the road.
- RB Jamal Roberts leads the SEC and ranks second nationally with 828 rushing yards through six games. Roberts also leads the FBS with 673 PFF-charted rushing yards after contact, accounting for 76.9% of his PFF-charted rushing yardage this season.
- WR Cayden Lee leads the SEC and ranks fifth nationally with 616 receiving yards on 42 receptions. His PFF receiving grade (91.1) ranks third nationally and leads the SEC among FBS pass catchers with at least 25 targets.
- QB Austin Simmons has earned an 87.3 overall offensive grade and an 87.5 passing grade from PFF through his first six games as a Tiger. His passing grade ranks fourth in the SEC and tied for 13th nationally among FBS passers with at least 100 passing attempts.
- LB Nicholas Rodriguez has logged five-straight games with double-digit tackles and shares the national lead with 63 total stops - top in the SEC.
- EDGE Daeden Hopkins' 7.0 sacks lead the team and are tied for third-most nationally.

SCOUTING OLE MISS
- The Rebels enter 4-1 overall and 2-1 in SEC play, opening with victories over No. 24 Louisville (41-38), Charlotte (41-9) and No. 7 LSU (32-24) before falling at No. 21 Florida (52-28). Ole Miss returned to the win column with a 52-17 victory at Vanderbilt last time out.
- Ole Miss rushed for a season-high 196 yards against Vanderbilt, outgaining the Commodores by a 409-343 margin and building a 42-3 halftime lead.
- The Rebels’ offense is led by QB Trinidad Chambliss, who has completed 122-of-174 passes for 1,435 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions through five games. Chambliss is completing 70.1 percent of his passes and averaging 287.0 passing yards per contest.
- Ole Miss is averaging 38.8 points and 433.8 yards of total offense per contest. The Rebels are averaging 133.2 rushing yards and 300.6 passing yards per game.
- Defensively, Ole Miss is allowing 28.0 points and 392.4 total yards per game, surrendering 176.4 rushing yards and 216.0 passing yards per contest. The Rebels forced four turnovers against Vanderbilt.
- The Rebels have scored on all 20 of their red-zone opportunities this season, including 18 touchdowns. Ole Miss is converting 43.1 percent of its third-down opportunities, moving the chains on 25-of-58 attempts.

I AM THE CAPTAIN NOW
- Mizzou voted six captains to lead the Tigers during the 2026 season. The group includes LT Cayden Green, C Dominick Giudice, LB Nicholas Rodriguez, RB Jamal Roberts, S Santana Banner and K Blake Craig.

GROUND LOCKED
- Mizzou held No. 8 Florida (42) and Texas A&M (27) to just 69 combined rushing yards over its last two games.
- Since Eli Drinkwitz took over in 2020, Mizzou is just the second SEC team to hold opponents to fewer than 70 combined rushing yards across consecutive regular-season conference games.
- Alabama accomplished the feat in 2021, limiting Mississippi State to minus-one rushing yard and Tennessee to 65 on back-to-back October weekends.
- Including the SEC Championship Game, only three SEC programs have accomplished the feat since 2020: Mizzou, Alabama and Georgia.
- The Bulldogs allowed 23 rushing yards to Texas in their final regular-season SEC contest of 2025 before holding Alabama to minus-three in the conference title game.

ROBERTS RUNS WILD (AGAIN)
- RB Jamal Roberts rushed for a career-high 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Mizzou’s 27-6 victory over Texas A&M.
- He notched his second-straight 200-yard game on the ground and became the first Tiger in program history to do so.
- Roberts became just the third SEC running back in the last 20 years to record consecutive 200-yard rushing performances against FBS opponents, joining Derrick Henry and Leonard Fournette, who both accomplished the feat in 2015.
- The St. Louis product leads the SEC and ranks second nationally with 828 rushing yards, averaging 138.0 yards per game and 5.6 yards per carry on 147 attempts – the second-most carries nationally.
- His eight rushing touchdowns are tied for second in the SEC and seventh nationally.
- Roberts has totaled 433 rushing yards over his last two games and surpassed 100 yards in four of his last five outings.
- Roberts is the only running back in FBS with more than one 200-yard rushing performance this season.
- In the second half alone over the past two games, Roberts has racked up 336 yards and five touchdowns.

TIGERS AT THE TOP
- Mizzou boasts the SEC's leader in total receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and rushing yards through six games.
- WR Cayden Lee leads the conference with 616 receiving yards, ranking fifth nationally, on 42 receptions - also tied for the SEC lead.
- WR Donovan Olugbode leads the SEC with six receiving touchdowns - tied for seventh in FBS.
- RB Jamal Roberts paces the league in rushing yards (828), ranking second nationally, while scoring eight touchdowns on 147 carries.

SEC LEE-DER
- WR Cayden Lee leads the SEC in both receptions and receiving yards through six games, recording 42 catches for 616 yards.
- Lee ranks fifth nationally in receiving yards and sixth in receptions, averaging 102.7 receiving yards per game and 14.7 yards per catch.
- His five touchdown receptions are tied for second in the SEC and 15th nationally.
- Lee caught seven passes for 94 yards against Texas A&M, including a 32-yard touchdown.
- It marked his fifth touchdown connection of at least 20 yards with Austin Simmons this season.

TWO FOR THE SHOW
- Wide receivers Cayden Lee and Donovan Olugbode have combined for 68 receptions, 1,023 yards and 11 touchdowns through six games.
- Olugbode’s six touchdown catches lead Mizzou and are tied for the SEC lead and seventh nationally.
- Lee leads the conference with 616 receiving yards, while Olugbode ranks eighth in the SEC with 407.
- Together, Lee and Olugbode have accounted for 66.5 percent of Mizzou’s receiving yards and 11 of the Tigers’ 14 touchdown receptions.

FAST START, ELITE COMPANY
- QB Austin Simmons has completed 107-of-165 passes for 1,434 yards, 14 touchdowns and just one interception through his first six games as a Tiger.
- Compared to the first six games of the first full seasons as Mizzou’s starting quarterback for Blaine Gabbert, Chase Daniel and Drew Lock, Simmons owns the highest completion percentage (64.8) and is tied with Lock for the most touchdown passes (14).
- Simmons ranks fifth in the SEC and 26th nationally in passing yards. His 14 touchdown passes are tied for second in the conference and 12th nationally.
- Simmons began his Tiger career with 139 consecutive attempts without an interception, the second-longest streak to begin a Mizzou career and the second-most interception-free attempts to open a season in program history.
- Simmons has thrown his 14 touchdowns on just 165 attempts, 34 fewer than any of the other three quarterbacks.
- His 1,434 passing yards are just 12 shy of Daniel’s six-game total of 1,446 in 2006.

FIRST SIX GAMES AS MIZZOU STARTING QB
(COMPARED TO MU ALL-TIME LEADING PASSERS)
PLAYER | C-A | PCT. | YARDS | TD

A. Simmons '26 | 107-165 | 64.8% | 1,434 | 14

B. Gabbert '09 | 126-218 | 57.8% | 1,620 | 12

C. Daniel '06 | 128-199 | 64.3% | 1,446 | 13

D. Lock '16 | 117-217 | 53.9% | 1,714 | 14

MAKING CONTACT COUNT
- RB Jamal Roberts leads the SEC and ranks second nationally in total rushing yards, gaining 828 yards and scoring eight touchdowns on 147 carries through six games.
- PFF has credited Roberts with an FBS-leading 673 rushing yards after contact, 102 more than the next-highest total.
- Roberts has generated 76.9% of his PFF-charted rushing yardage after contact this season, averaging 4.4 yards after contact per attempt.
- Against Texas A&M, PFF credited Roberts with 208 yards after contact, six forced missed tackles and a 78.9 rushing grade.
- Roberts has forced 27 missed tackles on rushing attempts this season.
- The St. Louis native has rushed for 433 yards and five touchdowns over his last two games, following his 211-yard performance against Florida up with a career-high 222 yards against Texas A&M on 34 carries.
- On his 54-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter, Roberts reached a top speed of 21.7 MPH (via Reel Analytics) - tied for the second fastest sprint speed in FBS last week.

AUSTIN POWER
- QB Austin Simmons has earned an 87.3 overall offensive grade and an 87.5 passing grade from PFF through his first six games as a Tiger.
- Among FBS passers with at least 100 passing attempts, Simmons’ passing grade ranks fourth in the SEC and tied for 13th nationally.
- Officially, Simmons has completed 107-of-165 passes for 1,434 yards, 14 touchdowns and one interception, producing a 64.8 completion percentage and a 164.6 passing efficiency rating.
- PFF has credited Simmons with seven big-time throws this season.

LEE-DING THE WAY
- WR Cayden Lee owns a 90.9 overall offensive grade and a team-leading 91.1 receiving grade from PFF through six games.
- Among FBS pass catchers with at least 25 targets, Lee’s receiving grade ranks third nationally and leads the SEC.
- Lee leads the SEC and ranks fifth nationally in total receiving yards with 616, catching 42 passes and scoring five touchdowns.
- PFF has charted Lee with 60 targets, 195 yards after the catch and 30 receiving first downs.
- Lee has converted five of seven PFF-charted contested targets this season.

TWO FOR THE SHOW
- Wide receivers Cayden Lee and Donovan Olugbode have combined for 68 receptions, 1,023 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 15.0 yards per catch.
- Olugbode’s six receiving touchdowns lead the SEC and are tied for seventh nationally.
- Olugbode has caught 26 passes for 407 yards, complementing Lee’s SEC-leading 42 receptions for and 616 yards.
- PFF has charted the duo with 98 combined targets and 345 yards after the catch.

PROTECTION PLAN
- Three Mizzou starting offensive linemen have earned season pass-blocking grades of at least 83.8 from PFF.
- Tristan Wilson leads the group with an 87.1 pass-blocking grade, followed by Dominick Giudice at 84.5 and Cayden Green at 83.8.
- PFF has charged Wilson, Giudice and Green with just two pressures apiece and no sacks across 522 combined individual pass-blocking snaps this season.
- Against Texas A&M, Wilson earned an 86.3 pass-blocking grade and was charged with no sacks, quarterback hits or hurries across 29 pass-blocking snaps.
- Wilson, Green, Giudice and Luke Work each finished the A&M game without allowing a PFF-credited pressure. 
- The five starters collectively allowed three pressures.

DEATH ROW DEFENSE
- Mizzou’s 91.2 overall defensive grade from PFF through six games ranks fourth in the SEC and tied for 11th nationally among FBS teams.
- The Tigers’ 91.5 run-defense grade ranks fourth in the SEC and tied for 15th nationally.
- Mizzou’s 87.7 pass-rushing grade leads the SEC and ranks second nationally, trailing only Notre Dame’s 88.2.

WOODYARD OWNS THE RUN
- Linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr. owns a team-leading 92.7 run-defense grade from PFF through six games.
- Among FBS defenders with at least 25 run-defense snaps, Woodyard ranks second nationally and second in the SEC.
- PFF has credited Woodyard with 20 run stops across 114 run-defense snaps this season.
- Woodyard earned an 81.5 run-defense grade and a 78.9 overall defensive grade against Texas A&M.
- Kensley Louidor-Faustin gives the Tigers a second defender with a season run-defense grade above 90.0, earning a 90.5 grade across 81 run-defense snaps.
- Officially, Mizzou is allowing just 78.3 rushing yards per game and 2.4 yards per attempt through six games.

THE BANNER STANDARD
- Safety Santana Banner has been one of Mizzou’s most active defenders through six games, logging 318 PFF-charted defensive snaps while earning a 74.8 overall defensive grade and a 78.2 coverage grade.
- Banner ranks second among Tigers with 52 official tackles, trailing only Nicholas Rodriguez’s 63.
- His 17 PFF defensive stops rank third on the team, behind Rodriguez’s 24 and Robert Woodyard Jr.’s 23.

NICK-ROD SETS THE PACE
- LB Nicholas Rodriguez leads the SEC and is tied for the national lead with 63 total tackles through six games.
- Rodriguez recorded a game-high 13 tackles against Texas A&M, extending his streak of double-digit tackle performances to five games.
- Rodriguez earned an 81.9 overall defensive grade against the Aggies, the highest among Mizzou defenders who played at least 20 snaps.
- His A&M performance included an 81.4 run-defense grade and a 74.5 coverage grade.

PRESSURE IN NUMBERS
- PFF has credited Mizzou with 111 pressures through six games, comprising 22 sacks, 14 quarterback hits and 75 hurries.
- Daeden Hopkins leads the Tigers with 25 PFF-credited pressures, followed by Donta Simpson with 18. The duo has combined for 43 pressures.
- Among FBS defenders with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps, Hopkins’ 25 pressures lead the SEC and is tied for sixth nationally.
- Hopkins owns an 80.7 overall defensive grade and an 80.6 pass-rushing grade from PFF.
- Officially, Hopkins leads Mizzou with 7.0 sacks, ranking third in the SEC and tied for third nationally.
- Simpson owns an 83.5 overall defensive grade and a team-leading 86.9 pass-rushing grade from PFF.
- Among FBS defenders with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps, Simpson’s pass-rushing grade ranks second in the SEC and tied for 15th nationally.
- PFF has credited Simpson with a 20.6% pass-rush win rate and an 17.6% pressure rate across 102 pass-rushing snaps.

DYNAMIC DUO
- Mizzou’s WR pairing of Cayden Lee and Donovan Olugbode ranks third nationally and leads the SEC with 1,023 combined receiving yards through six games.
- The tandem has combined for 68 receptions and 11 touchdowns, averaging 15.0 yards per catch and 170.5 receiving yards per game.
- Lee leads the SEC and ranks fifth nationally with 616 receiving yards, pacing the Tigers with 42 receptions while adding five touchdowns.
- Olugbode has caught 26 passes for 407 yards and an SEC-leading six receiving touchdowns, tying for seventh nationally in receiving scores.
- Olugbode and Lee each surpassed 100 receiving yards in the win at Kansas. Olugbode finished with 121 yards and a touchdown on six receptions, while Lee added 120 yards and a score on six catches.
- The duo became the first pair of Mizzou receivers to record 100 yards in the same game since Luther Burden III and Theo Wease Jr. accomplished the feat at Vanderbilt on Sept. 30, 2023.
- They also became the first Tiger tandem to each reach 120 receiving yards in the same game since Dimetrios Mason and Emanuel Hall against Delaware State on Sept. 24, 2016, and the first against a P4 opponent since Jerrell Jackson and TJ Moe against Iowa on Dec. 28, 2010.
- The Kansas performance marked the first time two Mizzou receivers each scored a touchdown and reached 120 receiving yards in the same game since Danario Alexander and Jerrell Jackson against Iowa State on Nov. 21, 2009.

TOP RECEIVING DUOS NATIONALLY
(TOTAL RECEIVINGYARDS, italics = TE)
NO. | PLAYER | YARDS | YPC | YPG

1. Legree/Olsen (OREGON ST.) 1,212 | 18.6 | 202.0
2. Smith/McCuin (OHIO ST.) 1,161 | 17.9 | 193.5
3. Lee/Olugbode (MIZZOU) 1,023 | 15.0 | 170.5
4. Dixon/Clement (ILLINOIS) 1,012 | 13.7 | 168.7

RUNNIN' ON EMPTY
- Mizzou held Texas A&M to just 29 rushing yards, marking its second-consecutive game limiting an opponent to fewer than 50 yards on the ground.
- Through six games, the Tigers have allowed just 78.3 rushing yards per game (No. 8 in FBS) and just 2.4 yards per carry.
- Opponents have scored only two rushing touchdowns against Mizzou this season.
- It is the first time since 2009 that the Tigers have held consecutive conference opponents below 50 rushing yards.

AMONG THE ELITE
- Since the start of 2023, the Tigers are 34-11 (.756),  tied for 12th-best nationally over that period.

WIN PERCENTAGE SINCE 2023
(NATIONAL LEADERS)
NO. | TEAM | WIN % | RECORD
1. Oregon .875 | 42-6
2. Ohio State .857 | 42-7
3. Oregon .854 | 41-7
4. Notre Dame .851 | 40-7
5. Ole Miss .826 | 38-8 
    James Madison .826 | 38-8
7. Texas .813 | 39-9
8. Alabama .771 | 37-11
9. Indiana .766 | 36-11
10. SMU .761 | 35-11 
      Michigan .761 | 35-11
12. Mizzou .756 | 34-11
       Memphis .756 | 34-11

RODRIGUEZ KEEPS ROLLING
- LB Nicholas Rodriguez leads the SEC and is tied for the national lead with 63 tackles through six games, averaging 10.5 stops per contest.
- Rodriguez recorded a game-high 13 tackles against Texas A&M, extending his streak of double-digit performances to five consecutive games.
- His streak is the longest by a Tiger since Kentrell Brothers produced a program-record seven-game run in 2015.
- Rodriguez leads Mizzou in tackles, followed by Santana Banner with 52 and Robert Woodyard Jr. with 44.
- Banner ranks third in the SEC in tackles while Woodyard Jr. ranks 10th to make it three Tigers in the league's top 10.

HOPKINS' HAVOC
- EDGE rusher Daeden Hopkins leads Mizzou with 7.0 sacks, third in the SEC and tied for third nationally.
- Hopkins also leads the Tigers with seven tackles for loss and seven official quarterback hurries while recording two forced fumbles.
- He registered a career-high three quarterback hurries against Texas A&M as Mizzou finished with a season-best 13.
- The Tigers have totaled 18 sacks this season, averaging 3.0 per game, and have recorded at least three in five consecutive contests.

TAKE TWO
- Safeties Elijah Dotson and Trajen Greco each intercepted a pass against Texas A&M, giving Mizzou six picks this season.
- Greco leads the Tigers with two interceptions and became the first Mizzou safety with multiple picks in a season since Jaylon Carlies in 2023.
- Mizzou has forced eight turnovers while committing just three, producing a plus-five turnover margin through six games.
- The Tigers have recorded two multi-interception games this season, matching their total from 2023.

CRAIG FROM LONG RANGE
- Kicker Blake Craig connected from 52 and 51 yards against Texas A&M, bringing his season total to 10 field goals, including four from at least 50 yards.
- Craig became the first kicker in program history to record multiple 50-yard field goals in consecutive games.
- His four long-distance makes are tied for second-most in a season in program history, while his 11 career makes are two shy of Harrison Mevis’ program record.
- Craig leads the SEC and is tied for 15th nationally with 1.67 field goals per game, converting 10 attempts through six contests.
- Craig has also converted all 25 extra-point attempts this season.

BRUNNO'S BOOT
- Brazilian punter Brunno Reus is averaging 45.4 yards on 26 punts through six games, ranking seventh in the SEC and 32nd nationally in punting average.
- Reus has placed 11 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and recorded nine punts of at least 50 yards, including a season-long 66-yard boot, and a pair of kicks downed at the opponent's 2-yard line.
- He has averaged more than 40 yards per punt in each of Mizzou’s six games this season.

TAKING CARE OF IT
- Mizzou leads the SEC and is tied for 12th nationally with just three turnovers lost through six games.
- The Tigers have thrown only one interception across 181 team passing attempts, tying for the fewest in the SEC and seventh-fewest nationally.
- Missouri has generated eight takeaways against three giveaways, producing a plus-five turnover margin.
- Its plus-0.83 margin per game ranks fourth in the SEC and tied for 20th nationally.
- The Tigers also rank tied for first in the SEC and tied for 17th nationally in sacks allowed, surrendering just six sacks for 24 yards through six games.

GROUND CONTROL
- Mizzou ranks eighth nationally and third in the SEC in rushing defense, allowing just 78.3 yards per game through six contests.
- The Tigers have surrendered only two rushing touchdowns and are holding opponents to 2.44 yards per carry.
- Mizzou’s disruption extends behind the line of scrimmage, ranking tied for 14th nationally and tied for fourth in the SEC with 3.00 sacks per game.
- The Tigers have recorded 18 sacks and 43 tackles for loss this season. Their 7.17 tackles for loss per game rank tied for 19th nationally and tied for fourth in the SEC.

WINNING ON THE GROUND
- Mizzou rushed for 252 yards in its 27-6 victory over Texas A&M, led by Jamal Roberts’ career-high 222 yards.
- The Tigers improved to 31-2 under head coach Eli Drinkwitz when rushing for at least 200 yards.
- Roberts’ career-long 80-yard touchdown vs. Florida was the 11th scoring run of at least 80 yards in program history and Mizzou’s longest rush since Henry Josey broke an 86-yard run in 2013.

COOL UNDER PRESSURE
- QB Austin Simmons has excelled on third down during the 2026 season.
- The Ole Miss transfer has completed 57.9 percent of his third-down pass attempts (33 of 57) for 466 yards.
- Simmons has converted 26 first downs on those 57 attempts with eight TD passes.
- He has averaged a third-down passing TD on every 6.0 third-down attempts.

TAKEAWAY TIGERS
- Mizzou forced three turnovers against Kansas, its most in a game since forcing three takeaways against Mississippi State on Nov. 15, 2025.
- The Tigers won the turnover battle by a 3-1 margin.
- Mizzou again forced multiple turnovers in the win over Troy, and again in the win over Texas A&M, and improved to 30-4 under head coach Eli Drinkwitz when finishing with a positive turnover margin.