Mizzou football vs. Oklahoma: Five things to know before Missouri Tigers’ next game

The Missouri Tigers had a week off after a lopsided 34-0 defeat at Alabama, one that also saw quarterback Brady Cook leave with an injury.

The Tigers, slotted at No. 24 in the College Football Playoff rankings, now look to bounce back against an old foe in the Oklahoma Sooners, playing for the first time since 2011.

Oklahoma, fresh off a 59-14 routing of Maine, is still looking for its second SEC win of the season, and first since Sept. 28.

“Tremendous matchup versus Oklahoma. Have a lot of respect for the history of that program and the coaches. I think they do an excellent job in all three phases,” head coach Eli Drinkwitz said Tuesday.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of Saturday’s kickoff...

Mizzou football at Oklahoma game details

Kickoff: 6:45 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9

Where: Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium (Columbia)

TV: SEC Network

Radio: Tiger Radio Network

Betting line: Oklahoma is a 2.5-point favorite (via FanDuel)

Over/under: 41.5

Five Things to Know

1. QB Brady Cook’s status is still up in the air. Sustaining a wrist injury against the Crimson Tide, Cook was sidelined in the second half as the Tigers turned to backup Drew Pyne. Pyne went 6-for-12 passing with three interceptions in the shutout loss. When asked of Cook’s availability on Tuesday, Drinkwitz said the media will find out in the SEC-mandated availability report Wednesday evening:

“I know y’all are going to ask me about injuries, and I’ll welcome all the questions that you want to ask, and I will defer to the injury report that will be released tomorrow night as a competitive equity within the SEC,” Drinkwitz said.

There will also be an update on RB Nate Noel, who has been sidelined since the UMass matchup in on Oct. 12.

2. Mizzou is a home underdog for the first time this season. The Tigers aren’t favored at Faurot for the first time since playing host to Tennessee in November 2023, as the Vols came into Columbia as a 1.5-point favorite. The Tigers then rolled to a 36-7 victory.

3. This is the reintroduction of a longstanding rivalry between the two programs. Mizzou and Oklahoma have played 96 matchups in the rivalry dating back to 1902. The Sooners have the all-time advantage 67-24-5, but the two haven’t played since Mizzou left the Big 12 in 2012.

4. The Sooners have been able to limit damage on the ground. Cook’s availability will be an obvious factor with how often the Tigers decide to run the ball. If he’s out, then the Tigers will have to find a way to break through the Sooners’ rushing defense, which has allowed an average of 106.1 yards per game.

5. QB Jackson Arnold has only gotten better. It was a rough start for the Sooners QB, who was benched during Oklahoma’s Tennessee matchup. But Arnold returned against South Carolina. In his time since being benched, he’s gone 55-for-88 for 631 yards and six touchdowns (including a 90-yard TD pass against Maine last week).