Missouri Tigers score twice in final 1:03 to stun Oklahoma Sooners. Here’s the recap

Given how the fourth quarter of Saturday’s Missouri-Oklahoma football game unfolded, a missed extra point might have been the least unexpected of the twists and turns.

The No. 24 Tigers certainly won’t complain after they scoop-and-scored their way to a 30-23 victory with 30 seconds to play at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.

The crowd erupted in chants of M-I-Z, Z-O-U following the Tigers’ defensive score that matched one from the Sooners only moments earlier. A game that began as a defensive slugfest turned into one of the wildest contests of the 2024 college football season.

“We didn’t quit,” coach Eli Drinkwitz said to ESPN after the game. “We said going into the game, whatever it takes.”

It took all that — and more.

The Tigers, who have learned all too well life without an injured Brady Cook isn’t easy, turned to backup Drew Pyne, who tossed a trio of touchdown passes.

The Tigers first went ahead 10-9 on a pass from Pyne to Theo Wease Jr., then had the chance to go up eight when Pyne found Brett Norfleet in the fourth quarter for a 16-9 lead.

But a failed PAT (after a false start backed the attempt up 5 yards) began a stretch of Missouri miscues — the most glaring a Jamal Roberts fumble returned for an OU scoop-and-score — as the Tigers found themselves trailing 23-16 late in the fourth quarter.

Pyne, who went 14-for-27 passing for 143 yards and three touchdowns, quarterbacked a game-tying drive. On third-and-16 near midfield, he launched a deep ball to Luther Burden, who made an athletic catch at the 10-yard line before getting out of bounds.

“This group battles,” Pyne said to ESPN after the game, adding of Burden’s catch: “He made a heck of a play. He’s an incredible player. I think he’s the most dynamic player I’ve ever played with in my entire life.”

The touchdown throw went to Wease on the right side of the end zone, as he leapt over a defender to snag the ball, then tapped one foot in bounds to secure the score.

The winning score? Oklahoma’s Jackson Arnold was sacked by Triston Newson, who jarred the ball loose with a big hit. Zion Young returned it 17 yards for a touchdown with 30 seconds to play, and the Mizzou defense held on for the win.

The Tigers mustered only three points in the first half, but trailed just 9-3 thanks to a strong defensive effort. A 12-play, 59-yard scoring drive gave the Tigers their 10-9 lead midway through the third quarter, and a 9-play, 30-yard drive (following an OU fumble) put the Tigers up 16-9 in the fourth.

The Sooners dialed up a trick play to tie the score, with Arnold handing off to running back Taylor Tatum, who then threw a pass back to the OU quarterback around the line of scrimmage. Arnold sprinted in from 18 yards away.

The ensuing MU possession, the Tigers fumbled approaching midfield. OU’s Billy Bowman returned the fumble 43 yards for a go-ahead score with two minutes to play — and what appeared to be a crushing MU defeat.

Then ... Pyne’s game-tying drive, followed by the Tigers’ scoop-and-score.

MU improved to 7-2, 3-2 in Southeastern Conference play. Oklahoma fell to 5-5, 1-5 in conference.

“It gives us another win, it keeps us in the playoff hunt,” Drinkwitz said to ESPN. “That’s right. I said it. Playoff hunt. M-I-Z.”

Up next: The Tigers play at South Carolina at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.