Games between the University of Tennessee and University of Missouri have been frequent fireworks shows. The very first meeting was a 51-48 slugfest with Mizzou coming out on top. The next three games, two Tennessee losses and one win, were more relaxed, with the points totaling 68-43. But 2016, the 5th contest, was a 63-37 blowout of Mizzou by UT. 2017 and 2018 were both 50-17 blowouts by Mizzou of UT. Tennessee has won four straight games, though, prevailing 24-20 in 2019, 35-12 in 2020, and winning 62-24 and 66-24 the last two years.
But this is 2023. This year, Tennessee relies on big passing plays, a grinding run game, and opportunistic defense to win games. Against Missouri, the tables were turned on their heads. The Volunteers offense, playing from behind most of the game, generated a barely acceptable 350 yards of offense. The Tigers’ Cody Schrader had nearly as many yards by himself on Saturday, rushing for over 200 yards on 35 carries, and catching five passes for 116 yards. As far as opportunistic defenses go, Tennessee was able to pick off the Tigers’ Brady Cook on the first Mizzou drive. But Missouri forced three turnovers, which included an interception returned for a touchdown for a 36-7 Mizzou lead. The other two turnovers ended UT drives in Missouri territory, and the ensuing drives netted the Tigers 11 points.
Injuries and penalties for Tennessee continued to mount. UT was penalized 9 times for 95 yards. Dont’e Thornton, after brilliantly catching a 46 yards touchdown pass, exited the game. Squirrel White went down after a catch, and was shaken up, and was a non-factor in the second half, though he wasn’t completely out of the game. Milton telegraphed his pass which was picked off by once again pivoting to stare down his receiver as he slowly wound up his arm before delivering a pass. Jalen Wright and Dylan Sampson both had 14 yard runs, but were limited to a combined 42 yards on 10 carries, and a fumble by Wright to end the first half.
On defense, the front line was largely pushed around by Missouri. The linebackers were out of position and diving and reaching and trying to chase down ball carriers instead of being in position. The secondary was largely without answers as Brady Cook threw for 275 yards and completed 75% of his passes. And the aforementioned Schrader cut away from defenders, dragged tacklers, lost coverage in pass plays, outran linebackers, chipped and blocked in pass protection, and wisely ate the dirt with only a few seconds left in the first half to give his team time to kick a field goal. On the very first play from scrimmage, Schrader was left wide open and only didn’t score a touchdown because Cook was slightly off target, and Cody stepped out after the catch.
This game is reminiscent of the South Carolina game last year. Tennessee showed up to a game which was expected to be competitive, and instead it was a one-sided affair in which it appeared Tennessee subbed in a junior varsity squad. Tennessee seemed as outmatched this week against Missouri as U Conn did against Tennessee last week. There appeared to be a disparity at most every level, this time favoring the Tigers instead of the Volunteers. The team which played against Missouri looked nothing like the one which played the Huskies last week, and everything liked the one which folded against Florida and disappeared against Alabama. But somehow even worse. This team has more questions than answers as the top ranked Georgia Bulldogs prepare to travel to Knoxville next week