'America's Team?' Missouri Football Caps Off Regular Season With Memorable Blowout
Missouri football has a 10-win team once again.
Hearing that sentence after nine long seasons toward the bottom of the Southeastern Conference is a sigh of relief for the entire program, which has finally broken out of the dark times and into being a top-10 team in the nation.
It wasn't easy, but behind the emergence of running back Cody Schrader, a turnaround season from quarterback Brady Cook, and receiver Luther Burden III's greatness, Eli Drinkwitz and company have turned the program around dramatically.
In last year's Battle Line Rivalry game, Missouri narrowly defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks, 29-27. It was a game the Tigers had to win to even receive bowl eligibility, making for a satisfying win to an otherwise mediocre season.
This time around, Missouri stomped all over Arkansas in a 48-14 victory that solidified it as a New Year's Six Bowl lock. It couldn't have been a more perfect end to the regular season, winning in convincing fashion over a rival at their home stadium.
Schrader further improved his case for Heisman Trophy consideration with 217 yards and a touchdown, while rookie tight end Brett Norfleet emerged with two touchdowns. On the defensive end, Triston Newson stepped up in a huge way by leading the Tigers with 15 tackles and recovering a Razorback fumble.
Nov 24, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Cody Schrader (7) rushes against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
It's not only been a magical season for Missouri fans, but one that has taken the notice of the national media. There's a special story behind the team, a group of underdogs that overcame the odds and setbacks to become apart of the elite teams in the SEC.
This sparked Drinkwitz to consider Missouri "America's team" following the game, combating Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh's previous comments on his team holding that honor.
"We're America's team," Drinkwitz said. "We're a team built on underdogs. We're a team built on young men with something to prove."
Schrader's story of coming from Division-II football, to being a walk on last season and now leading the SEC in rushing yards has been told many times the last few weeks, but it's a story that represents the underdog mentality the Tigers have taken on.
So many of Missouri's players are in award contention, but little received any consideration in preseason predictions or rankings. Quite frankly, few people thought the Tigers would come anywhere close to where they are now.
But, they believed.
Burden could have very easily left in the transfer portal last season, similarly to Dominic Lovett departing to the national champion Georgia Bulldogs. However, the sophomore believed enough in the program to stay in his home state and become one of the most dominant receivers in the country.
Missouri has a large senior class that includes fifth-year player Darius Robinson, who has played for the program his entire collegiate career. He could have departed following miserable years of losing, but continued to stick it out in hopes of improving it and finding success.
The Tigers have lived by one motto throughout the year: "Something to prove." What are they trying to prove, you might ask?
"It's not about proving that individually we're talented. It's about proving that, as a team, we can win," Drinkwitz said. "And, you know, we've been in every game this year through the fourth quarter. Some of them didn't go our way, some of them did. But our guys never quit."
It's safe to say they proved that.
Nov 24, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz celebrates after a defensive touchdown in the third quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Missouri won 48-14.
Arkansas was another game that went Missouri's way, ending a successful regular season with a blowout and victory cigars. The next stop is a January 1-type game yet to be determined, and the Tigers are out to continue to show one final time what their team is made of.
On his bowl game preference, "just as long as we're going, I don't care where. We'll show up," Drinkwitz said.
Chase Gemes covers Mizzou sports for MizzouCentral.
