Mizzou Football Season Opener vs. Murray State Moved to Thursday Night
The Missouri football is set to open the 2024 season under the lights against Murray State, shifting the game to Thursday, August 29, at Faurot Field, the Southeastern Conference announced on Tuesday.
Initially scheduled for Saturday, August 31, the game will now air nationally on SEC Network at 7 p.m. CT on the 29th. This is the third-straight year that the Tigers will open the season on a Thursday night.
“Holding our season opener on the Thursday night of Labor Day weekend has been huge from an attendance standpoint the last two seasons and it has helped us create a big-time atmosphere from our fans and student section,” Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “This doesn’t happen for us without Murray State and the SEC, so we appreciate both accommodating the change. I’m excited to keep this new tradition going with Mizzou football on Thursday night leading into Labor Day weekend the Missouri way.”
The Tigers are 1-0 all-time against the Murray State Racers, with the 58-14 victory coming on Aug. 31, 2013.
At the beginning of this past season, the Tigers were nowhere near the consensus radar of College Football Playoff contenders, let alone an appearance in the top 25. However, they finished with an 11-2 record, their best since 2014, and ended the season with a No. 8 overall rank in the polls after a Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State.
Several Mizzou players and coaches stood out in creating what many in the college football world call the most surprising team in college football this past season, as they were nominated/won awards. Additionally, eight players are headed to the 2024 NFL Draft.
What was once considered a near impossibility at the start of last season is now somewhat of an expectation for 2024, as the Tigers have a shot at making the College Football Playoff's new 12-team format.
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