The Tigers ran those cowbells quiet.
Marcus Carroll rushed for three touchdowns on a night the Tigers ran their opposition ragged, and Missouri football cruised to its eighth win of the season by defeating SEC cellar-dweller Mississippi State 39-20 on Saturday evening in Starkville, Mississippi.
After a sluggish start at Davis Wade Stadium, the Mizzou offense came alive. Carroll ran in touchdowns from 2 and 19 yards, and Brady Cook found Luther Burden III on a scrambling 28-yard touchdown pass in the first half to help the Tigers to a 15-point lead at the break.
But Missouri 's jumpstart came courtesy of its defense.
Staring down the barrel of a second straight Mississippi State scoring drive without an offensive response to open the game, Mizzou set the home team up with a short field after Cook was sacked at the 1-yard line and Luke Bauer's punt dropped at the 30.
On the very next play, Mizzou defensive tackle Kristian Williams forced the ball out of MSU quarterback Michael Van Buren's arms and Daylan Carnell scooped it up and returned it 68 yards to the end zone to open MU's account.
It wasn't all perfect on that end, as some defensive errors let Mississippi State hang around.
After Missouri mounted a 15-play field goal drive that burned nearly nine minutes of clock to open the second half, Mississippi State hit back with a two-play, Davon Booth touchdown run. The running back forced a missed tackle on that 43-yard touchdown run.
MSU's lone first-half touchdown came on the back of a pair of personal fouls from linebackers Corey Flagg and Chuck Hicks , which gave the Bulldogs 30 free yards and an instant red zone possession in the first quarter. Van Buren connected with Jordan Mosley to make it 14-10.
But the Tigers had more than enough offensive muster — especially running the rock — to get across the line.
After a turnover on downs forced in the red zone, Missouri mounted a fourth-quarter drive that lasted 8:43 and ended in another Carroll touchdown and 2-point conversion. The points extended the lead to 19 points and all but assured Missouri's first victory in an SEC road game this season.
Cook was 15-of-20 for 268 yards. Collectively, the Tigers ran the ball 56 times — a season-high — for 204 yards.
This section will be updated once the game begins.
6:17 p.m.:Two-minute timeout, and Mizzou has moved inside the Mississippi State 10-yard line.
6:13 p.m.:It's another turnover on downs from Mississippi State. The way Missouri is running the ball, don't be surprised if they run down the clock with 4:28 remaining here.
6:03 p.m.:Mizzou goes for two, and Marcus Carroll takes a direct snap into the end zone. Tigers 39, Bulldogs 20. 5:40 to play.
6:01 p.m.:Touchdown Missouri. Marcus Carroll with his third of the night. An excellent Missouri drive at just the right time. Cook found Burden twice to tremendous effect. The Tigers ran it right at MSU and the home team couldn't stop it. The drive used up 8:43 of clock. That should — should — do it.
5:50 p.m.:The Mississippi State offense stayed on the field for a fourth-and-3 at the Mizzou 17-yard line, but Van Buren's pass goes incomplete and it's a turnover on downs.
5:47 p.m.:On the very first play of Mississippi State's drive on the other end of the Mizzou missed field goal, Michael Van Buren hit Kelly Akharaiyi for a 49-yard gain on the best pass of the game. Two more plays get 4 yards, and that brings us to the end of the third quarter. Probably the most important play of the game upcoming for the Mizzou defense.
5:40 p.m.:Another promising Missouri drive stalls out deep in the Mississippi State half, but the Tigers are coming up completely empty on this one. Blake Craig misses a 44-yard field goal attempt.
5:31 p.m.:Touchdown Mississippi State. Many, many missed tackles as Davon Booth goes 43 yards. Didn't quite see who Booth slipped past first, but linebacker Triston Newson definitely got burned on one of the running back's cuts. Two plays, 7 points in response to the long Missouri field goal drive. 31-20.
5:26 p.m.:Field goal Missouri. Blake Craig makes a 35-yarder to extend the MU lead. That was a 15-play, 57-yard, 8:46 drive to start the second half. Mizzou 31, MSU 13. After the Norfleet touchdown was pulled back, the Tigers ran it on 11 straight plays.
5:18 p.m.:Wow. Oh-so-close to starting the second half with a bang for MU. Brett Norfleet tight-rope walked the right sideline for 57 yards and fell into the end zone, but a block in the back by Josh Manning is bringing it all the way back.
5:16 p.m.:The second half has started between Mizzou and Mississippi State. Kewan Lacy will not return to the game, per the SEC Network broadcast.
4:54 p.m.:Missouri is happy to take a 15-point lead into the half, running out the clock instead of attempting to force a 30-second drive. Mizzou does get the ball to begin the second half.
Brady Cook was 7-of-10 for 141 yards and a touchdown. The Tigers have run for 103 yards and two scores. Good half overall on the road for Missouri.
4:52 p.m.:Field goal MSU. Bulldogs convert a 26-yarder as the Mizzou defense comes up with a hold in the red zone. Johnny Walker Jr. with some excellent pressure on third-and-goal forced a wild throw out of bounds from Michael Van Buren.
4:49 p.m.:MSU wide receiver Keon Coleman catches a pass at the 3 on fourth-and-short to keep the drive going. Davon Booth ran into the end zone on the next play, but it's pulled back for holding.
4:42 p.m.:Mizzou DT Chris McClellan just got helped to his feet and is now heading to the sideline with a very slight limp. If I had to guess, it was the way he landed on his right knee.
4:33 p.m.:Touchdown Missouri. Marcus Carroll runs it in from 19 yards for his second TD of the half, piercing through the B gap and sprinting in untouched. Another well put together drive from the offense, helped tremendously by a 38-yard hit to Theo Wease. 28-10 Tigers with less than five minutes left in the half.
4:31 p.m.:After a Mississippi State three-and-out, Missouri is driving into threatening territory again after a 38-yard pass down the left sideline to Theo Wease Jr.
4:22 p.m.:Touchdown Missouri. Brady Cook, Luther Burden, magic. The wide receiver was not even remotely open. The quarterback was scrambling right and had to toss on the run. What a play on third-and-9 for a 28-yard score.
Not to go unnoticed: Missouri ran the ball really well on that drive, with 45 total rushing yards once the second quarter started between Noel, Cook and Lacy.
4:19 p.m.:Missouri freshman running back Kewan Lacy took a big hit from Stone Blanton while running for 6 yards on first down and is heading to the sideline with some help.
4:08 p.m.:Missouri leads after 15 minutes of game time.
The good: A 68-yard scoop and score set up by Kristian Williams and returned by Daylan Carnell.
The very, very bad: Two seniors giving Mississippi State 30 free yards on clear-and-obvious personal fouls to set them up in the red zone.
4:05 p.m.:Touchdown Mississippi State. Jordan Mosley with an 11-yard reception shortly after a pair of personal fouls — 30 free yards — set the Bulldogs up in the red zone.
4:04 p.m.:Corey Flagg is called for a personal foul for "hitting a defenseless player. I cannot believe that's not being reviewed for targeting. Chuck Hicks apparently threw a punch in the aftermath and also gets a personal foul. Not great. MSU inside the red zone after the penalties
3:57 p.m.:Touchdown Mizzou. Marcus Carroll makes a second effort count as he punches it in from the 2-yard line. One of the best deep shots we've seen this season to Marquis Johnson set that up. Mizzou leads 14-3 with 2:49 left in the first quarter.
3:54 p.m.:Tremendous catch from Marquis Johnson deep over the top, up the middle, and between defenders for a 45-yard gain. Mizzou is in the red zone.
3:52 p.m.:Mississippi State's offense only gets a yard on its next offensive series, coming on a run wedged in between two wayward passes. That fumble return has turned the tide, it seems. Let's see what Cook and Co. have after two abysmal opening series.
3:46 p.m.:Would you believe it ... Daylan Carnell scoop and score. Ball was forced out by Kristian Williams, and Daylan Carnell takes it 68 yards to the opposite end zone. All that after potentially the worst three-play stretch of the season from the Mizzou offense. Missouri 7, MSU 3 after the Blake Craig PAT goes through.
3:43 p.m.:Now Cook is sacked at the 1-yard line and it's the side of 1-yard line where he's an inch or two away from giving up a safety. Punt goes to the ... Missouri 30-yard line. Instant scoring position for the Bulldogs.
That is one of the worst non-turnover series of the season from the Missouri offense.
3:41 p.m.:No fumble. Nate Noel was ruled down.
3:39 p.m.:The officials are reviewing another potential Mizzou turnover. Nate Noel coughed up the ball going to the ground, and MSU has fallen on it at about the 11-yard line. Decision impending.
3:38 p.m.:Phew. Missouri gets away with a brief scare. Brady Cook swung a pass out to Luther Burden III on first down from inside the Tigers' own 10, Burden took a big hit and the ball went into the end zone and MSU fell on it. But ... it was ruled incomplete.
3:32 p.m.:Mizzou offense responds to the MSU field goal with a three-and-out. Cook was under a fair amount of pressure on third down there against a defense that ranks as one of the worst in the FBS at creating pressure.
3:28 p.m.:Mississippi State field goal on its opening drive. Bulldogs convert a 38-yarder to open the scoring. Looked like Missouri had forced a red-zone turnover after Joseph Charleston and Nicholas DeLoach Jr. combined to force the ball out of a receiver's hands, but the officials ruled the pass incomplete. MSU tailback Davon Booth ran for 42 yards on 3 carries, including a 33-yard chunk run.
3:18 p.m.:Mississippi State wins the toss and elects to receive. Bulldogs will start with the ball.
In about five minutes, Mizzou football's penultimate game of the regular season will kick off. As a reminder: The Tigers can still achieve a 10-win season by winning their final two regular season matchups and their bowl game, wherever that may be. So, plenty left to play for. The next updates here will be from in-game.
Shortly before Missouri at Mississippi State kicks off, Ole Miss ' College Football Playoff dreams came tumbling down in Gainesville with a loss to Florida .
Looks like the home team in Starkville was keeping tabs on their rivals ...
You won't catch this reporter jumping in on uniform discourse all too often, but ... hey, there's no quarterback questions this week. So, why not.
Looks like Missouri is going with white lids and the oval Tiger today. Yellow/gold facemask, depending on who you ask.
The final SEC-mandated availability report of the week, released approximately 90 minutes before kickoff, has been published, and there are no new updates on the Mizzou end. Starting wide receiver Mookie Cooper will miss his fourth straight game.
That means quarterback Brady Cook is officially available to play today, as was expected. Safety Tre'Vez Johnson, who had made a brief appearance on the report earlier in the week, but is no longer listed and will be available today.
On the Mississippi State side, a team spokesperson has reportedly told local reporters in Starkville that wide receiver Mario Craver, who averages more than 20 yards per reception for the Bulldogs, is suspended and will not play today. He is listed as out on the final availability report.
You can get up to speed on all of our Mizzou coverage previewing this week's game at the following links:
More: Missouri football vs Mississippi State: Prediction, scouting report for Week 12 SEC showdown
More: Which Missouri football freshmen could, or should, see more time this season? 3 candidates
More: Missouri football OL Drake Heismeyer, late in his career, is getting starting opportunity
More: With 3 losses, Missouri football's potential bowl destinations narrow. Where MU could land
More: Did Missouri football fall out of national polls after South Carolina loss? Where MU landed
More: What does Missouri football have to play for after South Carolina loss? Start with Brady Cook
TV Channel:SEC Network
Stream:FUBO (free trial)
Kickoff time:3:15 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23
Location:Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi
Missouri's game against Mississippi State will air on SEC Network. Taylor Zarzour will be the play-by-play announcer for the game, and Matt Stinchcomb will be the on-air analyst. Alyssa Lang will be the sideline reporter for the game.
FUBO, which offers a free trial for potential subscribers, will stream Missouri's game against the Bulldogs.
Watch Missouri football at Mississippi State on FUBO
Local radio:1580 AM; 105.1 FM
Satellite radio:Sirius XM 374
Tiger Radio Network will air the game live with 'Voice of the Tigers' Mike Kelly as the play-by-play announcer, Howard Richards as the analyst and Chris Gervino as the sideline reporter.
Series record:Tied 2-2
Last MU win:Mizzou 47, MSU 30 (Sept. 22, 1984 on Faurot Field)
Last game:MSU 51, Mizzou 32 (Dec. 19, 2020 in Starkville, Miss.)
Missouri has lost both of its games against Mississippi State since it joined the SEC. In 2015, Dak Prescott threw for 303 yards and four touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat the Tigers 31-13 in Columbia, and in 2020, in an extraordinarily late regular season game Dec. 19, 2020, the then-Mike Leach led Bulldogs put up 51 points for a rout in Starkville.
| Date (Time) |
Opponent |
Location |
| Aug. 29 |
Missouri 51, Murray State 0 (1-0) |
Columbia, Mo. |
| Sept. 7 |
Missouri 38, Buffalo 0 (2-0) |
Columbia, Mo. |
| Sept. 14 |
Missouri 27, Boston College 21 (3-0) |
Columbia, Mo. |
| Sept. 21 |
Missouri 30, Vanderbilt 27 (2OT) (4-0) |
Columbia, Mo. |
| IDLE |
IDLE |
IDLE |
| Oct. 5 |
Texas A&M 41, Missouri 10 (4-1) |
College Station, Texas |
| Oct. 12 |
Missouri 45, UMass 3 (5-1) |
Amherst, Mass. |
| Oct. 19 |
Missouri 21, Auburn 17 (6-1) |
Columbia, Mo. |
| Oct. 26 |
Alabama 34, Missouri 0 (6-2) |
Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
| IDLE |
IDLE |
IDLE |
| Nov. 9 |
Missouri 30, Oklahoma 23 (7-2) |
Columbia, Mo. |
| Nov. 16 |
South Carolina 34, Missouri 30 (7-3) |
Columbia, S.C. |
| Nov. 23 (3:15 p.m., SECN) |
Mississippi State |
Starkville, Miss. |
| Nov. 30 (2:30 p.m., SECN) |
Columbia, Mo. |
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This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football vs Mississippi State score: MU beats Bulldogs on the road
