COLUMBIA, Mo. — Now’s the time to seal the deal.
When Missouri football, ranked No. 11 in the AP Poll and No. 9 by the College Football Playoff’s selection committee, hosts Florida at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, it’ll be one of two final regular season games in which the Tigers are solidly favored and need to win close out the program’s best season since 2013.
If beating Tennessee last week was about “standing on business,†this game is about taking care of business for Mizzou (8-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference).
The Gators (5-5, 3-4 SEC) need one more win for bowl eligibility, and with their final game coming against No. 4 Florida State, UF will view Saturday as its more winnable game.
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The game will be televised nationally on ESPN. Here’s what to watch for:
Revenge tour continues
MU is winning a lot of games this year, but some of the Tigers’ most impressive and rewarding victories have come against teams that have been troublesome in the past — like last year.
Mizzou has already reversed results against Kansas State, Kentucky and Tennessee. From a 61-yard walk-off field goal to a fake punt touchdown to a record-breaking day from running back Cody Schrader, those revenge wins have all come in memorable fashion.
After losing those three games by a combined 74 points last season, Missouri has won them by 49 total points this time around.
Is Florida next? The Gators won by seven points in Gainesville last season when a late drive from the Tigers fell apart. They’re the final box to check off on the 2023 revenge tour.
Injury updates
Mizzou reportedly will be without starting weakside linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper on Saturday. He’s officially listed as questionable with an ankle injury sustained during the win over the Vols.
Both an MRI exam and X-rays came back clean on Hopper’s ankle, but he was battling significant swelling around the joint early in the week, coach Eli Drinkwitz said.
Triston Newson will continue to fill in for Hopper.
“Really proud of the way (Newson) came in and handled a lot of tough duties,†Drinkwitz said. “He’s been a guy that has started out on fire in the spring and it slowly just continued to build, and I think he embraced his role on special teams — did an excellent job in that role first.â€
Middle linebacker Chad Bailey is out for the rest of the season, meaning Newson’s pairing with Chuck Hicks will put two backups at the core of MU’s defense.
Also questionable to play is defensive tackle Realus George Jr.
The list of probable players contains some significant star power: quarterback Brady Cook, running back Schrader, wide receiver Luther Burden III, right guard Cam’Ron Johnson, cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr., defensive tackle Kristian Williams and safety Tre’Vez Johnson.
Is a CFP climb possible?
Missouri is in solid position to land a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game, but if the Tigers are going to move up the CFP rankings at all, they’ll need some help from other teams losing — plus a 2-0 finish to the regular season, of course.
What the teams ahead of MU will be up to:
No. 1 Georgia will visit No. 18 Tennessee, where the Bulldogs are still favored by 10 points.
No. 2 Ohio State hosts Minnesota, while No. 3 Michigan visits Maryland.
No. 4 Florida State will bring lowly North Alabama to town. No. 5 Washington is an underdog on the road at No. 11 Oregon State in what might be college football’s most interesting game of the weekend. No. 6 Oregon will travel to Arizona State.
Within closer range to Missouri, No. 7 Texas faces a road game against Iowa State and No. 8 Alabama should be comfortable at home against Chattanooga.