SETTING THE SCENE
The Mizzou football team (6-3, 3-3 SEC) travels to Athens for an SEC matchup against No. 1 Georgia (8-1, 6-1 SEC) on Saturday, November 14 (2:30 p.m. CT / ABC) at Sanford Stadium. The Tigers enter Saturday following a 34-20 setback against No. 7 Texas on November 7. LB Nicholas Rodriguez recorded a game-high 12 tackles, extending his streak of double-digit tackle performances to eight consecutive games—the longest in program history. WR Cayden Lee hauled in nine receptions for 79 yards, marking his ninth-consecutive game with at least five catches, while WR Naeshaun Montgomery scored his first career touchdown on a 72-yard reception.

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 52-32 mark (64-33 overall). The Alma, Arkansas, native has led the Tigers to bowl eligibility in each of his first seven 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 .787 and is 37-10 on Faurot Field during his tenure. Since the start of 2023, Drinkwitz and the Tigers have gone 35-13 (.729) - tied for 12th-best nationally over that stretch among P4 schools and Notre Dame.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is in his 11th season leading the Bulldogs, compiling a 125-22 record at his alma mater. Smart has guided No. 1 Georgia to an 8-1 overall record, including a 6-1 mark in SEC play in 2026, earning his 125th career victory with a 42-7 win at Ole Miss on Nov. 7. He has led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, four SEC championships (2017, 2022, 2024 and 2025) and five College Football Playoff appearances. Georgia has posted five-consecutive seasons with at least 11 wins (2021-25). Before returning to Athens, Smart spent nine seasons on Alabama’s staff, helping the Crimson Tide win four national championships.

FIRST & TEN: STORYLINES
- The Tigers are 35-13 since the start of 2023 (.729) - tied for 12th-best nationally over that stretch by winning percentage among P4 schools, including Notre Dame.
- Mizzou extended its winning streak against unranked opponents to 29 games with its win over Texas A&M on Oct. 10 - tied for the nation's longest such winning streak over unranked teams with Indiana. However, Mizzou is the only team in the nation undefeated against unranked foes since the start of 2023.
- The Tigers are tied for No. 8 nationally and second in the SEC in turnover margin (+9).
- Mizzou's offensive line has allowed just nine sacks on the season. The Tigers' 1.0 per game average is best in the SEC and ranks 12th-fewest nationally.
- RB Jamal Roberts leads all of FBS with 909 PFF-charted rushing yards after contact, accounting for 80.5% of his PFF-charted rushing yardage through nine games. Roberts leads the SEC and ranks ninth nationally with 1,071 rushing yards.
- LB Nicholas Rodriguez leads the SEC and ranks second nationally with 11.1 tackles per game, recording double-digit tackles in eight-consecutive contests — the longest streak in Mizzou history.
- WR Cayden Lee’s 89.6 PFF receiving grade leads the SEC and ranks fifth nationally among FBS wide receivers with at least 25 targets.
- DT Donta Simpson leads the SEC and ranks second nationally with a 90.2 PFF pass-rushing grade among FBS interior defensive linemen with at least 50 pass-rush snaps.
- EDGE Daeden Hopkins leads Mizzou with 7.0 sacks, tied for third in the SEC and 15th nationally.
- QB Austin Simmons’ 83.8 PFF passing grade ranks third in the SEC and 21st nationally among FBS quarterbacks with at least 200 passing attempts.

SCOUTING GEORGIA
- The top-ranked Bulldogs enter 8-1 overall (6-1 SEC) after consecutive conference victories over Florida and Ole Miss. Georgia defeated the Rebels, 42-7, on Nov. 7, snapping Ole Miss’ 16-game home winning streak.
- Georgia’s offense is led by QB Gunner Stockton, who has completed 139-of-196 passes for 1,857 yards, 20 touchdowns and four interceptions. He is completing 70.9 percent of his attempts and has added two rushing touchdowns.
- WR Talyn Taylor leads the Bulldogs with 25 receptions for 426 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 47.3 receiving yards per game.
- Georgia is averaging 41.1 points and 454.2 yards of total offense per contest, including 210.7 rushing yards and 243.6 passing yards.
- Defensively, the Bulldogs are allowing 14.0 points and 271.0 total yards per game, surrendering 84.4 rushing yards and 186.6 passing yards per contest.
- Georgia has recorded 31 sacks and forced 17 turnovers, including eight interceptions and nine fumble recoveries.
- The Bulldogs have scored on 39-of-44 red-zone opportunities, including 34 touchdowns. Georgia is converting 52.4 percent of its third-down opportunities, moving the chains on 54-of-103 attempts.

MIZZOU VS. AP NO. 1
- The Tigers have played 18 games in program history against the AP No. 1 team.
- Mizzou is 0-18 all-time vs. AP No. 1, including 0-11 in road games.
- Each of the Tigers' last three games versus AP No. 1 have came against the Bulldogs: 2021 (#1 Georgia 43, Mizzou 6), 2022 (#1 Georgia 26, Mizzou 22) and 2023 (#1 Georgia 30, #14 Mizzou 21).
- The four-point loss to Georgia in Columbia in 2022 is tied for the smallest margin of defeat for the Tigers against AP No. 1 (#1 Oklahoma 17, Mizzou 13 in 1987; Norman, Okla.).
- The Tigers have lost one overtime game against AP No. 1 (#1 Nebraska 45, Mizzou 38).

MAKING CONTACT COUNT
- RB Jamal Roberts leads the SEC and ranks ninth nationally in rushing yards per game, averaging 119.0 through nine contests.
- Roberts has rushed for 1,071 yards and nine touchdowns on 209 carries, leading the SEC and ranking ninth nationally in total rushing yards.
- PFF credits Roberts with an FBS-leading 909 rushing yards after contact, 51 more than second-place Dylan Riley of Boise State (858).
- Roberts has generated 80.5% of his PFF-charted rushing yardage after contact, averaging 4.1 yards after contact per attempt.

AUSTIN POWER
- QB Austin Simmons owns an 84.1 overall offensive grade and an 83.8 passing grade from PFF through nine games.
- Among FBS quarterbacks with at least 200 passing attempts, Simmons’ passing grade ranks third in the SEC and 21st nationally.
- Simmons has completed 175-of-283 passes for 2,204 yards, 18 touchdowns and two interceptions, producing a 61.8 completion percentage and a 146.8 passing efficiency rating.
- PFF has credited Simmons with 10 “big-time” throws this season.

LEE-DING THE WAY
- WR Cayden Lee owns an 89.6 receiving grade from PFF through nine games.
- Among FBS wide receivers with at least 25 targets, Lee’s receiving grade leads the SEC and ranks fifth nationally.
- Lee has caught 62 passes for 835 yards and five touchdowns, leading the SEC in receiving yards and ranking 14th nationally.
- Lee also leads the SEC in receiving yards per game (92.8) and receptions per game (6.89).
- Nationally, he ranks 15th in receiving yards per game and is tied for eighth in total receptions.
- PFF has charted Lee with 297 yards after the catch and 38 receiving first downs. He has secured nine of his 14 contested targets, a 64.3% contested-catch rate.

PROTECTION PLAN
- Three Mizzou starting offensive linemen own season pass-blocking grades above 80.0 from PFF: Cayden Green at 84.6, Dominick Giudice at 82.0 and Tristan Wilson at 80.9.
- PFF has charged Green, Giudice and Wilson with zero sacks allowed across 897 combined individual pass-blocking snaps through nine games—306 apiece for Wilson and Giudice and 285 for Green.
- Green and Giudice have allowed neither a sack nor a quarterback hit across their 591 combined pass-blocking snaps.
- Wilson and Giudice allowed no pressures across 92 combined individual pass-blocking snaps against Texas.

TWO FOR THE SHOW
- Wide receivers Cayden Lee and Donovan Olugbode have combined for 105 receptions, 1,459 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 13.9 yards per catch through nine games.
- Both remain among the SEC’s top eight in total receiving yards: Lee leads the conference with 835 yards on 62 catches, while Olugbode ranks eighth with 624 yards on 43 receptions.
- Lee owns an 89.6 receiving grade from PFF, leading the SEC and ranking fifth nationally among FBS wide receivers with at least 25 targets.
- PFF credits Lee with 297 yards after the catch and 38 receiving first downs, while Olugbode has generated 210 yards after the catch and 31 receiving first downs.
- Olugbode’s seven receiving touchdowns are tied for second in the SEC and 21st nationally, while Lee has added five touchdown receptions.
- Olugbode has recorded three 100-yard receiving games this season, highlighted by career highs of nine receptions and 127 yards at Ole Miss.

DEATH ROW DEFENSE
- Mizzou’s 84.4 pass-rushing grade from PFF is tied with South Carolina for second in the SEC, trailing only LSU (89.0).
- Through nine games, the Tigers’ 90.3 run-defense grade ranks fifth in the SEC, while their 90.4 overall defensive grade ranks sixth.
- Officially, Mizzou allows 95.8 rushing yards per game, ranking third in the SEC and 14th nationally, while surrendering just 2.9 yards per carry.
- The Tigers have allowed only five rushing touchdowns this season.

WOODYARD OWNS THE RUN
- LB Robert Woodyard Jr. owns an 85.7 PFF run-defense grade, leading Tigers with at least 100 defensive snaps.
- PFF credits Woodyard with a team-leading 22 defensive stops against the run, ahead of Nicholas Rodriguez (20).
- Woodyard’s average tackle against the run has come 2.30 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
- He has played 174 run-defense snaps this season and recorded 26 total defensive stops, second-most on the team.

DOTSON LIMITS THE DAMAGE
- PFF credits safety Elijah Dotson with allowing just 106 receiving yards and no touchdowns on 20 targets through nine games.
- Opposing quarterbacks have produced a 34.6 passer rating when targeting Dotson, completing 12-of-20 passes with two interceptions.
- Among FBS safeties targeted at least 20 times, Dotson’s passer rating allowed leads the SEC and ranks fourth nationally.
- Dotson has allowed just four receiving first downs across 277 coverage snaps, surrendering 0.38 receiving yards per coverage snap.

THE BANNER STANDARD
- Safety Santana Banner has logged a team-leading 518 PFF-charted defensive snaps while earning a 78.8 overall defensive grade and a 79.4 coverage grade.
- PFF credits Banner with 25 defensive stops, third-most among Tigers, including 14 against the pass.
- Banner ranks second on the team and tied for second in the SEC with 78 total tackles, averaging 8.67 per game.
- He recorded 10 tackles against Texas, his second double-digit tackle performance this season.

RODRIGUEZ RACKS 'EM UP
- LB Nicholas Rodriguez leads the SEC and ranks second nationally with 100 total tackles through nine games, averaging 11.1 per contest.
- Rodriguez recorded 12 tackles against Texas, extending his streak of double-digit tackle performances to eight-consecutive games—the longest in Mizzou history.
- His eight double-digit tackle performances this season rank second in program history.
- PFF credits Rodriguez with a team-leading 35 defensive stops, comprising 20 against the run and 15 against the pass.
- Rodriguez recorded six PFF defensive stops against Texas without a missed tackle, also recording a sack.

PRESSURE IN NUMBERS
- PFF has credited Mizzou with 156 pressures through nine games, comprising 26 sacks, 24 quarterback hits and 106 hurries.
- EDGE Daeden Hopkins leads Mizzou with 32 PFF-credited pressures across 248 pass-rush snaps.
- DT Donta Simpson follows with 28 pressures, while EDGE Darris Smith ranks third with 17.
- Hopkins leads the Tigers with 7.0 sacks, tied for third in the SEC and 14th nationally.

SIMPSON THE STOPPER
- DT Donta Simpson owns an 85.2 overall defensive grade and a 90.2 pass-rushing grade from PFF.
- Among FBS interior defensive linemen with at least 50 pass-rush snaps, Simpson’s pass-rushing grade leads the SEC and ranks second nationally, trailing only Texas Tech’s A.J. Holmes Jr. (90.7).
- PFF credits Simpson with 28 quarterback pressures across 166 pass-rush snaps, second-most on the team behind Daeden Hopkins.
- Simpson’s 16.9% pressure rate leads the SEC and ranks first nationally among FBS interior defensive linemen meeting that minimum.
- His 18.7% pass-rush win rate also leads the SEC and is tied for first nationally under the same minimum.

NO-FLY FLORENCE
- CB Jahlil Florence has allowed just 11 receptions on 28 targets, a 39.3% completion rate, according to PFF.
- Florence has surrendered 119 receiving yards and no touchdowns, with opposing QBs producing a 37.6 passer rating when targeting him.
- PFF credits Florence with five pass breakups and one interception across 161 coverage snaps. He has allowed just six receiving first downs and 0.74 receiving yards per coverage snap.
- He has allowed just six receiving first downs and 0.74 receiving yards per coverage snap.
- PFF credits Florence with five pass breakups and one interception across 131 coverage snaps.
- He has allowed just four receiving first downs.

NICK ROD BREAKING RECORDS
- LB Nicholas Rodriguez recorded 12 tackles in the game vs. Texas, extending his streak of double-digit tackle performances to eight-consecutive games and breaking the program record established by Kentrell Brothers (7) in 2015.
- His eight double-digit tackle performances this season rank second in program history for a single season.
- He is averaging 11.1 tackles per game to lead the country (among P4 schools and Notre Dame), totaling 100 stops through nine games.

E-LEE-TE COMPANY
- WR Cayden Lee caught nine passes for 79 yards against Texas, extending his streak of games with at least five receptions to nine.
- That stretch ranks third in Mizzou history, trailing only Jeremy Maclin (12) and Danario Alexander (10).
- His nine receptions against the Longhorns marked his second-highest total this season.

TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE
- WRs Cayden Lee and Donovan Olugbode have combined for 105 receptions, 1,459 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns through nine games, averaging 13.9 yards per catch.
- Lee leads Mizzou with 62 receptions for 835 yards and five touchdowns, while Olugbode has added 43 catches for 624 yards and seven scores.
- The duo combined for 12 receptions and 119 yards against Texas, with Lee finishing with nine catches for 79 yards and Olugbode adding three receptions for 40 yards.
- Olugbode’s seven touchdown receptions are the most by a Tiger since Luther Burden III caught nine in 2023.

AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
- RB Jamal Roberts leads the SEC and ranks ninth nationally in rushing yards (1,071) and rushing yards per game (119.0) through nine contests.
- Roberts also leads the SEC with 1,196 yards from scrimmage, combining 1,071 rushing yards with 125 receiving yards.
- PFF credits Roberts with an FBS-leading 909 rushing yards after contact, 51 more than second-place Dylan Riley of Boise State (858).
- Roberts averages 4.1 yards after contact per rushing attempt, with 80.5 percent of his PFF-charted rushing yardage coming after contact.
- He is tied for the national lead with 209 rushing attempts and leads the nation with 225 touches from scrimmage, averaging 23.2 carries and 25.0 touches per game.
- Roberts recorded the 22nd 1,000-yard rushing season in Mizzou history, reaching the milestone at Arkansas on Oct. 31.

SETTING THE TONE
- Mizzou limited Arkansas to seven total yards in the first quarter, the Razorbacks’ fewest in an opening quarter since 2018.
- It marked the second time this season the Tigers held an SEC opponent to seven or fewer yards in a quarter, following a three-yard third quarter against Texas A&M.
- The Tigers held Arkansas scoreless for the opening 29:19, their longest stretch to begin a conference game since shutting out the Razorbacks in the first half of the 2023 meeting.
- Mizzou followed that performance by holding Texas to 10 first-half points, just the third time the Longhorns had been limited to 10 or fewer points before halftime this season.

ROBERTS REACHES 1K
- RB Jamal Roberts surpassed 1,000 rushing yards with his 138-yard performance at Arkansas on Oct. 31, becoming the first SEC player and one of the first three players nationally to reach the milestone this season.
- His performance secured the 22nd 1,000-yard rushing season in Mizzou history.
- Roberts has increased his season total to 1,071 yards, adding 66 yards against Texas.
- Roberts is one of 10 players nationally and one of two in the SEC (DeSean Bishop; Tennessee) to go over 1,000 yards on the ground his season.

ROBERTS JOINS THE 2K CLUB
- RB Jamal Roberts became the 21st player in Mizzou history to reach 2,000 career rushing yards with his 66-yard performance against Texas.
- Roberts now owns 2,039 career rushing yards, including 1,071 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
- He has recorded five 100-yard rushing performances this season, most recently gaining 138 yards with a rushing touchdown at Arkansas.
- Roberts added three receptions for 20 yards and a touchdown against the Razorbacks, becoming the first Tiger with a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game since Luther Burden III against Vanderbilt on Oct. 22, 2022.
- He is the third Tiger to accomplish the feat under Eli Drinkwitz, joining Tyler Badie (four times) and Burden (twice).
- Roberts joined Larry Rountree III as the only Tigers with multiple 100-yard rushing games against Arkansas.

CRAIG FROM LONG RANGE
- Kicker Blake Craig has connected on five field goals from at least 50 yards this season and 12 in his career.
- Craig needs one more connection from 50-plus yards to tie Harrison Mevis’ program record of 13.
- His most recent long-range conversion came from 53 yards at Arkansas, where he connected on both attempts while battling rainy conditions.
- Craig added field goals of 22 and 48 yards against Texas.

TAKING IT AWAY
- Mizzou has generated 15 takeaways through nine games, including six over its last two contests.
- The Tigers forced a season-high four turnovers at Arkansas before recovering two fumbles against Texas.
- Mizzou matched its season high with three forced fumbles against the Longhorns.
- LB Jeremiah Beasley forced a fumble recovered by S Trajen Greco, while LB Brian Huff forced a kickoff fumble recovered by CB Cameron Keys.
- Keys’ recovery marked Mizzou’s first special teams takeaway since the Gator Bowl against Virginia on Dec. 27, 2025.
- Greco collected his third interception of the season at Arkansas, becoming the first Tiger with at least three in a season since Kris Abrams-Draine in 2023 and the first Mizzou safety since JC Carlies in 2021.
- LB Nicholas Rodriguez forced fumbles in consecutive games against Ole Miss and Arkansas, joining S Santana Banner, who accomplished the feat against Texas A&M and Ole Miss.
- EDGE Darris Smith recovered a fumble in the end zone at Arkansas for his first career fumble recovery and Mizzou’s first fumble recovery touchdown since Daylan Carnell’s 68-yard return at Mississippi State on Nov. 23, 2024.
- The Tigers have won 17 consecutive games when scoring a defensive or special teams touchdown, dating to their 2021 victory over North Texas.

DOWELL DOESN'T MISS
- PFF has not charged DT Jason Dowell with a missed tackle through nine games.
- Dowell has logged 286 defensive snaps without a penalty while earning a 72.2 overall defensive grade.
- PFF credits Dowell with eight defensive stops and 11 quarterback pressures, including three pressures against Texas.

TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS
- Mizzou owns a 29-game winning streak against unranked opponents, extending the streak with its victory over Arkansas on Oct. 31.
- The Tigers remain the only team nationally undefeated against unranked opponents since the start of 2023. The streak dates back to the season-opening victory over South Dakota on Aug. 31, 2023.
- Mizzou is tied with Indiana for the nation’s longest active winning streak against unranked opponents. The Hoosiers were idle on Nov. 7.
- Georgia’s 55-game streak ended against Auburn on Oct. 17, while Oregon’s 40-game streak ended against Oklahoma State on Sept. 12.

WINNING FORMULA
- Mizzou is 32-2 under Eli Drinkwitz when rushing for at least 200 yards, most recently reaching that mark with 211 yards in its victory at Arkansas.
- The Tigers claimed their fifth consecutive Battle Line Rivalry victory, improving to 6-1 against Arkansas under Drinkwitz and 13-4 in the all-time series.