Missouri’s football team faced a rocky start in their Southeastern Conference opener against Vanderbilt, but emerged victorious with a 30-27 win in double overtime at Faurot Field. The seventh-ranked Tigers struggled with inefficiencies and familiar mistakes throughout the game, but managed to secure the win in a critical moment for Coach Eli Drinkwitz’s squad.
In the first overtime, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia connected with Gabe Fisher for a touchdown, which was quickly matched by Missouri quarterback Brady Cook throwing a touchdown pass to Luther Burden III. However, the Tigers’ offense faltered in double overtime, requiring Blake Craig to make a 38-yard field goal to keep Missouri in the game. On the other side, Vanderbilt’s Brock Taylor missed a 31-yard field goal attempt, sealing the victory for Missouri.
Missouri’s offensive performance had its share of struggles, notably during two red-zone visits in the second quarter where the team only managed to score three points. Craig converted a 23-yarder but missed a 40 and a 47-yard attempt that could have given the Tigers an earlier advantage. Vanderbilt’s Pavia attempted a 50-yarder to take the lead late in the fourth quarter but also missed.
Cook completed 23 of 37 passes for 226 yards, while Pavia went 11 of 19 for 157 yards. Missouri’s Nate Noel shined on the ground, racking up 199 rushing yards, including a pivotal 64-yard run that set up a touchdown.
Critical moments included a questionable decision by Cook to attempt a play on fourth-and-3 as time was running down in the second half, resulting in a turnover on downs. This allowed Vanderbilt to capitalize and kick a lengthy field goal just before halftime, giving them a 16-10 lead.
The game remained tightly contested, with both teams missing scoring opportunities in the second half, leading to a scoreless fourth quarter and ultimately pushing the game into overtime.
When the smoke cleared, Missouri’s resilience paid off, helping them overcome their mistakes and secure a hard-fought victory as they continue their season in SEC play.