Corinna Utterback
Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy kicks up turf during Missouri’s game versus Massachusetts on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Farout Field in Columbia, Mo. The sophomore has rushed for 100-plus yards in each of the first four games of Missouri’s 2025 season.
The Missouri Tigers reigned victorious on Homecoming, taking down the University of Massachusetts Minutemen 42-6, advancing to 5-0 on the season and extending their Homecoming winning streak to nine consecutive wins.
As the story has been told for much of the season, Missouri’s rushing attack propelled the Tigers to a victory.
“We’re gonna run the ball,” senior wideout Kevin Coleman Jr. said. “And we’re gonna be good at it.”
Missouri rushed for 268 yards as a team, out-gaining the Minutemen by 249 yards. The unit was once again led by sophomore Ahmad Hardy, who finished the day with 130 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Hardy’s 730 yards and nine touchdowns on the season make him the nation’s leader in rushing yards and tied for first in touchdowns.
Redshirt sophomore Jamal Roberts had a smaller workload, but he made the most of his touches, rushing for 52 yards and a touchdown on just six carries. The duo has blossomed into an elite one-two punch, splitting carries to maximize efficiency.
“I’m happy we got two great running backs,” Coleman Jr. said. “I told them they both need each other.”
Redshirt junior Tavorus Jones also made the most of his opportunities, recording a season-high 24 rushing yards on four carries, punching in his first career touchdown in the process.
Graduate quarterback Beau Pribula threw for a respectable 241 yards, one touchdown and one interception. While his statline wasn’t eye-popping, he set a new school record for most consecutive completions, completing 21 straight passes to break Chase Daniel’s previous record of 20.
Pribula’s passing was efficient, but his trend of untimely turnovers is a potentially concerning sign for the offense moving forward. He’s now thrown an interception in three straight games, following a first-quarter pass that was picked off by UMass linebacker Timmy Hinspeter.
“There’s things that we got to continue to work on offensively,” head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said. “So that’s good. It’s good to be undefeated with things to improve.”
Despite up-and-down play, the team still has the utmost faith in their leader.
“Beau’s been doing great for us,” Coleman Jr. said. “Great leader, doing good and running good and helping us all play up to our potential.”
While Pribula’s performance may have been mixed, his top target, Coleman Jr., had a career night. Coleman recorded 12 catches for 108 yards on the night, breaking his previous career-high of 10 catches, which he last hit in Week 2 against Kansas.
Coleman Jr. has emerged as arguably Pribula’s favorite target, racking up a team-high 39 catches on the season, tied for second the nation and first in the Southeastern Conference. Coleman Jr. ranked No. 2 in the SEC with 74 receptions in 2024, and he is on pace to lead the conference in 2025.
Missouri will rest up with a Week 5 bye before hosting Alabama Oct. 11 for what will potentially be the Tigers’ first ranked matchup of the season.
Edited by Colin Simmons | [email protected]
Copy edited by Avery Copeland | [email protected]
Edited by Chase Pray | [email protected]