Live Blog for No. 15 Mizzou's Attempt at an Upset Over No. 10 Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A hail-mary attempt from No. 15 Missouri was caught, but Kevin Coleman Jr. was just one yard short of the goal-line, giving No. 10 Vanderbilt a 17-10 win. If Coleman was 1 yard further, Missouri would be an extra point away from forcing overtime.

Missouri had to play without its starting quarterback for most of the second half. An impressive effort by true freshman Matt Zollers fell just short.

After quarterback Beau Pribula exited on Missouri’s first drive of the third quarter when the game was tied at 3, the Tigers failed to keep up. Vanderbilt was able to make huge offensive plays in timely moments in order to sneak out with a 17-10 win.

A second loss on the season for Missouri has undeniable impact on the Tigers' postseason plans, but the question at the front of the mind regarding Missouri is the future status of Pribula. He had to be carted off the field after his efforts on a run on a fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line were stuffed. He did not return to the game, exiting the field on a wheelchair.

READ: Latest Updates on Beau Pribula’s Injury Status

Zollers did an impressive job to keep the Tigers’ hopes alive, leading Missouri on a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive on his second drive of the game. The touchdown was on a 6-yard pass to redshirt freshman tight end Jude James in the back of the end zone.

But the efforts from Zollers and the rest of Missouri crumbled when, with a chance to take a lead midway through the fourth quarter, running back Jamal Roberts fumbled a carry that put Vanderbilt at the Missouri 44-yard line.

From there, quarterback Diego Pavia led the Commodores down to take the lead on a 1-yard touchdown. Vanderbilt was aided by roughing the passer and pass interference penalties by Missouri on the drive. 30 of the 44 yards that Vanderbilt needed on the drive were afforded by penalties from the Tigers.

Missouri had one last chance in the final two minutes. A defensive pass interference from Vanderbilt gave Missouri a second chance after the Tigers faced a third-and-25 to open the drive. But, the hail mary attempt then fell just feet away from the end zone.

Missouri will take a bye week in Week 10 before returning home to face No. 3 Texas A&M in Week 11.

How it Happened

Final Stats

Fourth Quarter

After Zollers led Missouri down to the Vanderbilt 37-yard line, his attempt at a hail mary falls incomplete. Vanderbilt will take this one.

Pavia rushes in for a 1-yard touchdown to give Vanderbilt a 17-10 lead. It will be up to Matt Zollers to work some magic for Missouri with 1:52 remaining.

Officials originally ruled that Missouri had forced and recovered a fumble at the 1-yard line from a goal-line carry by running back Sedrick Alexander. After further review, Alexander held posession to the ground. Second-and-goal from the 3-yard line for the Commodores coming up.

Killer penalty for the Missouri defense — defensive end Langden Kitchen is called for a roughing the passer penalty to move Vanderbilt up to the 29-yard line.

Jamal Roberts fumbles the carry and Vanderbilt recovers at the Missouri 44. Vanderbilt could close it out here with 7:02 remaining.

Zollers tucks it down to run for a third-and-3 to keep the drive alive. The quick passing game mixed in with tough runs from Ahmad Hardy is working really well for the Missouri offense at the moment.

After a deep attempt from Diego Pavia on third down, Missouri forces the punt. Missouri will have the chance to take its first lead of the game since 2:00 remained in the second quarter.

On a fourth-and-2 from the 6-yard line, Matt Zollers delivers a bullet to Jude James to tie the game at 10. The kid is absolutely dealing it right now. He's completed 8 of his 11 passes for 52 yards and now a touchdown after replacing Beau Pribula.

Third Quarter

Of course, the first touchdown of the game comes on a massive 80-yard run from Vanderbilt's MK Young. Missouri 3, Vanderbilt 10, 3:51

True freshman quarterback Matt Zollers led Missouri down to the Vanderbilt 5-yard line on his first drive filling in for Beau Pribula, but true freshman kicker Robert Meyer's 29-yard kick hit off the left upright. Somehow, these teams are still tied at three points each.

Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula has just been carted off the field. He was down on the field for several minutes to be evaluated by trainers after taking a run on the fourth-and-goal.

READ: Latest Injury Updates on Beau Pribula

On fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, Beau Pribula is stuffed. Missouri gets zero points out of a drive that started 20 yards away from the end zone thanks to an interception from its defense.

Missouri's defense just created one of its best, and possibly biggest, plays of the season — after defensive tackle Chris McClellan tipped Pavia's pass, edge rusher Damon Wilson II snagged the ball out of midair and returned it to the Vanderbilt 20, where the Missouri offense will begin its first drive of the half.

Vanderbilt will receive the ball to open the second half.

First Half Stats

Stats from the first half of Missouri at Vanderbilt — StatMonitr

Second Quarter

This is the first game all season for both Missouri and Vanderbilt without a touchdown in the first half. That's mostly been due to penalties and missed plays from both offenses.

Missouri's two-minute efforts fall short, with the Tigers punting after Beau Pribula had nowhere to go on third-and-14, another long third down for Missouri.

For a second consecutive drive, a Vanderbilt drive stalled out in the red zone due to penalties. After getting past Missouri's 15-yard line, a holding on second down and a false start on third forced Vanderbilt to settle for a 38-yard kick from Brock Taylor. Missouri will have the chance to re-take the lead before halftime. Missouri 3, Vanderbilt 3, 2:00

Whether it be due to penalties or just a lack of execution, Missouri has struggled to stay ahead of the sticks. Have faced third downs of 7, 10 and now 12 yards. On the most recent, Pribula was pressued quickly and scrambled. But, Missouri is far enough to score the first points of the game, with Robert Meyer making a 39-yard kick. Missouri 3, Vanderbilt 0, 5:11

Edge rusher Darris Smith has been taking snaps at off-ball linebacker early this game, a new wrinkle. On third-and-16, he stays in line with Pavia on a quarterback spy and forces Pavia to throw it away.

First Quarter

This is just the second game yet this season for both Missouri and Vanderbilt without a score in the first quarter.

So far, Missouri has been able to run the ball very efficiently, but can hardly pass the ball. Beau Pribula is 2 for 5 for 4 yards while Ahmad Hardy has rushed for 33 yards on six carries. Pribula's latest incompletion was on third-and-10 after facing heavy pressure, a common theme so far today. Vanderbilt will start the drive pinned deep at its own 12.

Missouri's secondary is doing a pretty impressive job so far, especially in man coverage. Pavia has nowhere to go on third-and-10.

A risky third-down play call goes nowhere, as wide receiver Joshua Manning is tackled for a loss of 7 yards on a sweep on third-and-3. Neither team has traveled past midfield on the first three drives of the game.

The Missouri offensive line is doing a much better job at creating space for Ahmad Hardy on outside runs than it did against Auburn. Hardy has carries of 3, 8 and 5 yards so far.

After some rough moments against Auburn last week, Missouri cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. jumps ahead to force an impressive pass breakup on third-and-five. Vanderbilt now set to punt it back to Missouri.

Missouri's choice to receive the opening kick doesn't pay off. The Tigers go three and out after heavy pressure on third-and-8.

Missouri won the toss and chose to receive.

Pre Game

The game will kick off at 2:40 p.m., according to the clocks at FirstBank Stadium.

A noticeable portion of the top of Vanderbilt's student section is empty. There's also a heavy section of fans in Missouri yellow on the east end of the stadium.

Men's basketball head coach Dennis Gates is here at the game with former Tiger Laurence Bowers.

Zion Young has 4 sacks in 3 SEC games. What do you expect out of him today for #Mizzou? pic.twitter.com/fCYuDsqGWv
— Missouri Tigers On SI (@MizzouSI) October 25, 2025

Former Missouri running back Cody Schrader is here to watch the game. He was watching the team warm up.

Former Missouri running back Cody Schrader — MissouriOnSI

#Mizzou is in the Music City pic.twitter.com/x0NUBGwktE
— Missouri Tigers On SI (@MizzouSI) October 25, 2025

Injuries

Missouri

K Blake Craig - OUT (ACL, season)
QB Sam Horn - OUT (Tibia, season)

Vanderbilt

DL Yilanan Ouattara - OUT (Shoulder, season)
QB Drew Dickey — OUT (Cardiac issues, indefinitely)
RB Chase Gillespie — OUT
DB Vanzale Hinton — OUT (ACL, season)
LB Jamison Curtis — OUT
DL Nikhil Jefferson — OUT

Officiating Crew

Referee: Steve Marlowe
Umpire: Rodney Lawary
Referee: Steve Marlowe
Head Linesman: Ralph Green
Line Judge: Chris Conway
Back Judge: Wayne Gautney
Field Judge: Allan Nicholson
Side Judge: Justin Larrew
Center Judge: Marc Curles
Replay Official:John Allmond

NFL Scouts in attendance

- Atlanta Falcons
- Dallas Cowboys
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Indianapolis Colts
- Los Angeles Rams
- New York Giants (2)
- New York Jets

How to Watch: No. 15 Missouri at No. 10 Vanderbilt

Who: No. 15 Missouri Tigers (6-1, 2-1 SEC) at No. 10 Vanderbilt (6-1, 2-1)

What: Week 9 of the College Football season

Where: FirstBank Stadium (40,350), Nashville, Tenn.

When: Saturday, October 25, 2:30 p.m.

TV: ESPN

SirusXM: Away 202, Home 192

Radio: Tiger Radio Network: (Play-by-play Mike Kelly, Analyst Howard Richards, Sideline Chris Gervino)

Series: 18th meeting of two teams. Missouri is 12-4-1 against Vanderbilt. In 2024, the Tigers defeated Vanderbilt 30-27.