The Missouri Tigers ran into Mike Leach’s high-octane offense running at full capacity, falling 51-32 to the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon in Starkville, Mississippi.
In action broadcast on KTTN FM 92.3, Will Rogers threw for 295 touchdowns and three touchdowns for the Bulldogs (3-7), as MSU racked up 446 yards of total offense, 151 of that total coming from the rushing game.
Mizzou’s offense was hampered by turnovers, with the Tigers handing over the football four times. While MU racked up 342 yards of total offense, much of that total was gained after the game’s outcome had been determined. The Tigers finish the regular season 5-5, the second straight .500 finish for the team.
Mississippi State controlled the first half, leading 27-10 at the half. Jo’quavious Marks scored on the opening possession of the third quarter, effectively putting any Tiger comeback hopes on ice.
Missouri redshirt freshman Connor Bazelak was 22 for 38 for 225 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Larry Rountree III had 121 rushing yards and a pair of scores for Missouri.
Following the loss to Mississippi State, Missouri accepted an invitation to play in the 2020 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, playing the 6-2 Iowa Hawkeyes at 3 o’clock on Wednesday, December 30th. Missouri had considered opportunities to play in either the Outback Bowl in Tampa or the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, but passed on those opportunities to play at the site closer to Columbia for friends and families to attend.
From the Southeastern Conference, league champion Alabama received the #1 seed for the College Football Playoff, drawing a semifinal game with Notre Dame in Arlington, Texas at 4 o’clock on New Year’s Day.
Other bowl games involving SEC teams will be:
Orange Bowl : Texas A&M vs. North Carolina – 7:00 PM on 1/2/21
Outback Bowl : Indiana vs. Ole Miss – 11:30 AM on 1/2/21
Gator Bowl : Kentucky vs. North Carolina State – 11:00 AM on 1/2/21
Citrus Bowl : Northwestern vs. Auburn – 12:00 PM on 1/1/21
Peach Bowl : Cincinnati vs. Georgia – 11:00 AM on 1/1/21
Texas Bowl : Arkansas vs. TCU – 7:00 PM on 12/31/20
Liberty Bowl : Tennessee vs. West Virginia – 3:00 PM on 12/31/20
Armed Forces Bowl : Tulsa vs. Mississippi State – 11:00 AM on 12/31/20
Cotton Bowl : Oklahoma vs. Florida – 7:00 PM on 12/30/20
Gasparilla Bowl : South Carolina vs. Alabama-Birmingham – 11:00 AM on 12/26/20
