No. 25 Mizzou pulled off an absolutely stunning upset, dropping No. 8 Florida 45-17 on their homecoming night, with an unreal 35 unanswered points powering the Tigers to victory. This wasn’t just a win; it was their first home triumph against an AP top-10 team since knocking off No. 1 Oklahoma back in 2010, and their largest margin of victory against a top-10 squad since 1976 against No. 8 USC. After that deflating 31-24 loss at Mississippi State, this win could legitimately launch Mizzou’s season into something special.
Defense Shut Down Florida’s Rushing Attack When It Mattered Most
Everyone knew the key for Mizzou in this ranked SEC slugfest: stop Florida’s rush game, especially Jadan Baugh. And boy, did they deliver. The Gators’ stable was absolutely bottled up, finishing with just 42 yards on 25 carries total, with Baugh himself managing a measly 13 yards on 1.1 yards per carry. Right from the jump, Mizzou’s defense set the tone, racking up four tackles for loss on Florida’s opening drive and forcing a field goal with a huge third-down stop inside the 5-yard line. Even without their starting pass rushers Darris Smith and Langden Kitchen, the defense still came up huge, totaling three sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Kensley Louidor-Faustin was an absolute menace, accounting for 3.5 of those tackles for loss. That kind of defensive stand is what you love to see, especially against a top-10 opponent.
Roberts and Simmons Exploded, Unlocking a New Threat
On offense, it felt like the Mizzou we saw in the first two weeks of the season, and it was glorious. Quarterback Austin Simmons was dealing, moving the ball by getting it into the hands of his dynamic receiving duo early and often. He put up a career-high 340 passing yards, completing 23 of 30 passes for two touchdowns. Cayden Lee and Donovan Olugbode combined for 14 catches, 204 yards, and a touchdown for Olugbode.
But the real fireworks came in the second half from Jamal Roberts. While Mizzou was already on a 20-0 run, Roberts decided to put on a show reminiscent of the Kansas game. With a minute left in the third, he broke off what was his career-longest rush at 77 yards, taking it down to the 2-yard line after looking like he was bottled up. He seemed almost mad he got caught, because on the very next play, he corrected it with an 80-yard touchdown run. The dude finished the day with an incredible 211 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries.
And then there’s Caleb Goodie Sr. This Cincinnati transfer came into the day with just one catch on the season, but he burst onto the scene against the Gators with two catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. His 36-yard gain on the opening drive of the second half perfectly fueled Mizzou’s offense to a 27-10 lead, capped off by one of Roberts’ 5-yard touchdown runs. Mizzou’s trend of big middle-quarter scoring continued, too. After a 3-3 first quarter , their first points in an opening frame since Week 1 , they absolutely exploded for 27 points across the second and third quarters.
“Craig the Leg” Delivers, Offense Is Legit
Kicker Blake Craig, known as “Craig the Leg,” was a huge advantage, too. He went 3-for-4 on field goals and nailed all three extra points. What’s even more impressive? He shook off a 50-yard miss in the second quarter by bouncing back with two straight makes from 50+ yards. That kind of resilience is crucial.
The offense overall was absolutely legit, racking up 562 total yards while committing only two penalties. They were converting, too, going 7-for-X (the source cuts off there). This massive win, especially after the Mississippi State loss, means everything. The fan base was deflated, but now, with a top-10 upset under their belt and a performance like this, it looks like Mizzou might just be launching themselves into a truly successful season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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