28-06-2025
Mizzou Football's Top 25 Games Since 2000: No. 20-16
Mizzou Football's Top 25 Games Since 2000: No. 20-16 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
We're here for the second part of our five-part series highlighting the top Missouri Tigers football games of the 21st century. Today we'll dive into numbers 20 through 16.
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The matchups all make the list for different reasons; some helped shape the program's modern identity while others broke records. But there's one thing that all the games have in common: a Tigers' victory.
#20 - November 20, 2021: vs Florida
OT Thriller ends in Mizzou victory to secure bowl game eligibility – Mizzou 24, Florida 23
The Tigers hosted unranked Florida with only two shots left at bowl game eligibility. Their last contest was an away game against No. 25 Arkansas, so this was Mizzou's best chance. The teams found themselves in OT at Faurot Field and following a Gators touchdown, the Tigers needed to score. Mizzou RB Tyler Badie found a seam and rushed into the endzone for a 13-yard run. Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz wasn't ready for another round of overtime; he elected to attempt a two-point conversion. Tigers' QB Connor Bazelak found Daniel Parker Jr. in the endzone to win it for Mizzou and secure bowl game eligibility.
Florida defensive lineman Tedarrell Slaton (56) chases down Missouri running back Larry Rountree III (34)© Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via Imagn Content Services, LLC
#19 - September 13, 2008: vs Nevada
Chase Daniel sets program passing record in blowout victory – No. 6 Mizzou 69, Nevada 17
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Missouri QB Chase Daniel outclassed Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick en route to a blowout victory during the Tigers' 2008 season. The victory pushed the Tigers to a 3-0 record, and it also helped Mizzou to a Top 5 ranking the following week. Daniel threw for 405 yards and set the program record for passing yards, passing his former teammate Brad Smith who sat at 8,799 career yards. Daniel went on to finish his career with 12,515 career passing yards and still holds the record for the Tigers.
#18 - November 12, 2011: vs #21 Texas
Gary Pinkel gets revenge on Longhorns in final Big 12 matchup – Mizzou 17, No. 21 Texas 5
In Mizzou's final season in the Big 12 before heading to the SEC, head coach Gary Pinkel finally defeated Texas after losing six consecutive matches against the Longhorns. Mizzou QB James Franklin scored his 11th rushing touchdown of the season to put Missouri ahead in the victory. The Tigers were unranked at the time and although the victory felt nice; Mizzou lost one of the conference's top rushers in Henry Josey. Shockingly, Josey tore his ACL, MCL and ruptured his patellar tendon all in the same knee at the same time. Crazy right? He wouldn't return in black-and-gold until the 2013 season where he went on to rush for 1,166 yards and 17 total touchdowns. Josey capped off his time as a Tiger with a three-touchdown performance in the Cotton Bowl against No. 13 Oklahoma State.
#17 - December 5, 2020: vs Arkansas
Tigers rally back to defeat Razorbacks on game-winning field goal – Mizzou 50, Arkansas 48
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Down by 14 in the fourth quarter, Mizzou pulled off its largest fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Arkansas on a game-winning Harrison Mevis 32-yard field goal. The Tigers scored all five of their touchdowns on the ground to go along with 273 rushing yards. Larrry Rountree III did the bulk of the work, rushing 27 times for 185 yards and three touchdowns. Tyler Badie was extremely productive as RB2, rushing six times for 79 yards and two touchdowns. The victory turned out to be the Tigers last of the season as back-to-back losses against Georgia and Mississippi State would wrap up the 2020 season.
Tigers kicker Harrison Mevis (92) kicks the game winning field goal as Arkansas Razorbacks defensive back Jalen Catalon (1) defends as time expires in the fourth quarter at Faurot Field© Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
#16 - December 29, 2023: vs #7 Ohio State
Eliah Drinkwitz secures first bowl win with Mizzou – No. 9 Mizzou 14, No. 7 Ohio State 3
The Tigers ended their successful 2023 season with a Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State at AT&T Stadium. The game was slow; 16 punts, 17 points. But one thing worked for the Tigers: RB Cody Schrader. The All-American running back rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown to help Missouri secure the win. The Buckeyes held the lead during the entirety of the second and third quarter, but a two-touchdown fourth quarter gave the Tigers all they needed to walk out of Texas with a trophy.
Tigers quarterback Brady Cook (12) pretends to take a photo of running back Cody Schrader (7) after he scored a touchdown© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Related: Mizzou Football's Top 25 Games Since 2000: No. 21-25
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
