Nineteenth-ranked Mizzou just dropped a tough one, falling 31-24 to #24 Mississippi State, and you know what? It stings. Hard. This wasn’t just any game, folks. We’re talking about a chance for a 4-0 start, a legitimate shot at a ranked road win,something they haven’t seen since the pre-Drinkwitz era,and even a potential Gameday visit next week if they pulled it off. Instead, the Tigers couldn’t close it out against another ranked opponent.
Sloppy Play and Calls Sink the Ship
Look, Mizzou came out sloppy, again. Eight penalties for a whopping 91 yards? That’s just unacceptable when you’ve got so much on the line. We saw two crushing holding penalties in the redzone, stifling drives before they could even get going. Then, a killer hold in the fourth quarter basically ended a drive and immediately led to Mississippi State’s first of two go-ahead touchdowns. And just for good measure, another hold popped up on their final drive before the Hail Mary attempt. You can’t win big games playing like that.
Beyond the flags, the playcalling was ultra conservative all evening, especially on second down and long. Seriously, offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey called seven running plays on second and eight or longer in the first half alone. One was wiped out by a penalty, and only one actually picked up half the yards needed for a first down. In the second half, we only saw one more of those calls, and guess what? It was unsuccessful too. That’s eight runs on second and long, one hold, and only one successful play. This put the Tigers in third and long all night, making it nearly impossible for the offense to find any rhythm early on.
Another Slow Start Proves Too Much
For the third straight game, Mizzou started slow, and this time, it was their biggest early hole of the season. They went down 14-0 in the first quarter, thanks in part to a beautiful 43-yard deep pass from Kamario Taylor to Sanfrisco Magee. Santana Banner was caught in single coverage on one of Mississippi State’s fastest receivers; an ill-conceived defensive call that cost them big. Mizzou tried to respond, driving the field, but then missed a 52-yard field goal. Mississippi State seized that momentum, put together another long drive, and scored again. That hefty early deficit ultimately proved too much for the Tigers to overcome, setting the tone for the entire night.
Daeden Hopkins Shows Up, But Who Else?
The defensive line was already thin coming into this game, especially after Darris Smith was officially ruled out with a lower body injury on Friday. That put a ton of pressure squarely on second-year Hermann native Daeden Hopkins. The stakes got even higher when the Tigers’ other starter, Langdon Kitchen, went down with a leg injury in the first quarter. But man, did Hopkins ever step up! He tallied two sacks in the first half, including a massive play at the end of the half to keep Mississippi State from scoring as the clock ran out. He didn’t stop there, adding another sack in the third quarter and a fourth sack in the fourth quarter when Mississippi State was driving. What a performance! It’s a shame not enough of his teammates could match that intensity.
This loss means Mizzou missed a golden chance to truly make a statement and elevate their season. They’ll need to clean up those penalties, get healthier on the D-line, and find a consistent offensive identity if they want to bounce back strong after this one.
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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