Mizzou football at Arkansas: Five things to know before Tigers’ regular-season finale
It’s the most wonderful time of the year — and we’re not talking about the start of holiday season with Thanksgiving taking place this week.
It’s officially Rivalry Week for college football, and No. 9 Mizzou will close out its regular season with the annual Battle Line Rivalry against the Arkansas Razorbacks under some Friday night lights.
The Tigers are coming off a nail-biting finish over the 5-6 Florida Gators. Despite entering the contest as an 11.5-point favorite, it came down to the last drive for Mizzou after the Gators grabbed a 31-30 lead with 1:35 remaining.
For the Tigers’ final push, quarterback Brady Cook found wide receiver Luther Burden III on fourth-and-17 for a 27-yard completion to put the Tigers in field-goal range. Harrison Mevis came through from 30 yards for the kick that sealed the 33-31 victory.
Now marching into Fayetteville, the Tigers face the Razorbacks, who are coming off a 44-20 win over Florida International last week. The Razorbacks are 4-7 on the season, with their lone SEC win coming against the Gators in overtime.
Arkansas won’t reach bowl eligibility this season, but it can play spoiler for Mizzou’s bid for a New Year’s Six bowl game.
Here’s what you need to know as Friday’s contest approaches...
Mizzou football vs. Arkansas game details
Kickoff: 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24
Where: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (Fayetteville)
TV: CBS
Radio: Tiger Radio Network
Early betting line: Mizzou is a 7.5-point favorite. The over/under is set at 54.5.
Five things to know: Mizzou vs. Arkansas
1. The Tigers have the chance for a 10-win season for the first time since 2014. Under head coach Gary Pinkel, the Tigers finished that season 11-3, topped off with a Citrus Bowl victory over Minnesota.
2. Mizzou leads the all-time Battle Line Rivalry. Since its formal introduction in 2014 after Mizzou joined the SEC two years prior, the Tigers have dominated the Battle Line rivalry with a 6-2 record. Mizzou leads the all-time series 9-4 (and you can add on another win to both of those records if you want to include the vacated game from 2015).
3. Mizzou hasn’t won in Fayetteville since 2017. The Tigers won on the road against Arkansas in 2019, but that game was played at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The Tigers haven’t won at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (which is, ironically, named after a Mizzou alum) since 2017, and that was actually the program’s only win in Fayetteville.
4. Arkansas can’t stop the run. The Razorbacks are 0-6 when allowing at least 120 rushing yards, and they allow an average of 145 per game. Meanwhile, the Tigers’ offense is averaging 161.4 yards on the ground, and RB Cody Schrader has averaged 156 rushing yards over the past four games.
5. RB Isaiah Augustave is the Arkansas player to watch. RB Raheim “Rocket” Sanders went down against FIU with a torn labrum, and the freshman Augustave rose to the occasion with 101 rushing yards on 14 carries. Augustave has yet to start for Arkansas this year, but if the Razorbacks want to play spoiler against the Tigers on Friday, then Augustave might have to play more of a starring role.
