Each year, Missouri football plays at least one Football Championship Subdivision opponent. It’s played one every season since 2006 except for last year, when they played an all-SEC schedule. The Southeast Missouri State Redhawks are the Tigers’ only non-FBS matchup this season, and the teams will play at Faurot Field at 11 a.m. today.
Historically, the Tigers have dominated FCS foes. Since the turn of the century, the Tigers have a perfect 17-0 against teams from the FCS. They haven’t just won, but often done so in a lopsided fashion. Looking back on previous matchups against the FCS, just how good have the Tigers been?
In Missouri’s 17 other meetings against FCS opponents this century, it has put on an offensive clinic. The Tigers have had no trouble scoring, averaging 51 points per game, and have topped the 500-plus yard mark in 11 of the 17 games.
Former Missouri quarterback Drew Lock not only had the best passing performance by a Tiger quarterback against an FCS opponent but had the best performance in school history. Against the Missouri State Bears in 2017, Lock threw for a school-record 521 yards. His 7 touchdowns that afternoon still stands as a school single-game record.
One of Lock’s receivers that afternoon, J’Mon Moore, made just 4 receptions, but turned them into 187 yards with a pair of 50-yard scores in the 72-43 victory.
On the ground, Henry Josey had an unforgettable career at MU. In 2011, Josey was one of the best running backs in the nation, leading the country with 8.1 yards per carry. And against the Western Illinois Leathernecks, he ran wild.
Josey went for 263 yards (18.8 yards per attempt) on 14 rushing attempts and 3 first-half touchdowns of 6, 21, and 68 yards. That night, Missouri gained 428 yards on the ground in a 69-0 shutout victory.
Much like the offense, the Tigers’ defense has dominated their side of the ball in FCS matchups. Since 2000, the Tigers allowed an average of 9 points per game to FCS teams.
Missouri allowed just 173 passing yards through the air. More impressively, they have held FCS teams to just 76 rushing yards per game. In 12 of 17 games, they held teams to under 100 yards.
In the same game that Josey ran wild against Western Illinois, the Tigers’ defense may have been even stronger. Against the Leathernecks, Missouri allowed just 1 first down and gave up just 24 yards on the ground and 20 yards through the air.
The Tigers have played the Redhawks three times: in 2008, 2015, and 2019. They did not allow a touchdown in all three of those games and won with scores of 52-3, 34-3, and 50-0.
While teams can’t afford to take opponents lightly, history says that Missouri has good odds to improve to 2-1 this Saturday.
Edited by Kyle Pinnell | kpinnell@themaneater.com
