2021 Missouri Tigers football team

The 2021 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers played their home games at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri, and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by second-year head coach Eliah Drinkwitz.

2021 Missouri Tigers football
Armed Forces Bowl, L 22–24 vs. Army
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Division	Eastern Division
Record	6–7 (3–5 SEC)
Head coach	Eliah Drinkwitz (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Steve Wilks (1st season)
Home stadium	Faurot Field
Seasons ← 2020 2022 →

2021 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
No. 1 Georgia x#^		8	–	0					14	–	1
No. 18 Kentucky		5	–	3					10	–	3
Tennessee		4	–	4					7	–	6
Missouri		3	–	5					6	–	7
South Carolina		3	–	5					7	–	6
Florida		2	–	6					6	–	7
Vanderbilt		0	–	8					2	–	10
West Division
No. 2 Alabama x$^		7	–	1					13	–	2
No. 11 Ole Miss		6	–	2					10	–	3
No. 21 Arkansas		4	–	4					9	–	4
Mississippi State		4	–	4					7	–	6
Texas A&M		4	–	4					8	–	4
Auburn		3	–	5					6	–	7
LSU		3	–	5					6	–	7
Championship: Alabama 41, Georgia 24
# – College Football Playoff champion ^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 4	3:00 p.m.	Central Michigan*	Faurot Field Columbia, MO	SECN	W 34–24	46,327
September 11	6:30 p.m.	at Kentucky	Kroger Field Lexington, KY	SECN	L 28–35	58,437
September 18	11:00 a.m.	Southeast Missouri State*	Faurot Field Columbia, MO	ESPN+/SECN+	W 59–28	46,598
September 25	11:00 a.m.	at Boston College*	Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA	ESPN2	L 34–41 ^OT	44,500
October 2	11:00 a.m.	Tennessee	Faurot Field Columbia, MO	SECN	L 24–62	45,655
October 9	3:00 p.m.	North Texas*	Faurot Field Columbia, MO	SECN	W 48–35	46,985
October 16	11:00 a.m.	No. 21 Texas A&M	Faurot Field Columbia, MO	SECN	L 14–35	48,139
October 30	2:00 p.m.	at Vanderbilt	Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN	SECN	W 37–28	19,821
November 6	11:00 a.m.	at No. 1 Georgia	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA	ESPN	L 6–43	92,746
November 13	3:00 p.m.	South Carolina	Faurot Field Columbia, MO	SECN	W 31–28	44,092
November 20	3:00 p.m.	Florida	Faurot Field Columbia, MO	SECN	W 24–23 ^OT	47,818
November 26	2:30 p.m.	at No. 25 Arkansas	Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR (Battle Line Rivalry)	CBS	L 17–34	67,320
December 22	7:00 p.m.	vs. Army*	Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX (Armed Forces Bowl)	ESPN	L 22–24	34,888
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP and CFP Rankings after November 2 All times are in Central time

^[1]

Game summaries

vs Central Michigan

Central Michigan at Missouri

1 2 3 4 Total Central Michigan 7 7 0 10 24 • Missouri 7 10 7 10 34 Date: September 4, 2021 Location: Faurot Field Columbia, MO Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 46,237 Television network: SECN

Pregame line	Over/under
MIZ –14.0	59.0

Statistics	Central Michigan	Missouri
First downs	27	26
Total yards	475	468
Rushing yards	174	211
Passing yards	301	257
Turnovers	2	0
Time of possession	31:59	28:01

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Michigan	Passing	Jacob Sirmon	23/45, 295 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
	Rushing	Lew Nichols III	19 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	JaCorey Sullivan	8 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TDs
Missouri	Passing	Connor Bazelak	21/32, 257 yards, 2 TDs
	Rushing	Tyler Badie	25 carries, 203 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	D'ionte Smith	2 receptions, 69 yards

At Kentucky

1 2 3 4 Total Missouri 7 7 7 7 28 • Kentucky 14 7 7 7 35 Date: September 11 Location: Lexington, KY Game start: 7:38 p.m. Game attendance: 58,437 Game weather: Sunny, 74°F, Wind S @ 8 mph Referee: Ken Williamson TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (color), Alyssa Lang (sideline) Sources:

Statistics	Missouri	Kentucky
First downs	25	26
Total yards	398	520
Rushing yards	104	341
Passing yards	294	179
Turnovers	1	2
Time of possession	27:12	32:48

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Missouri	Passing	Connor Bazelak	34/51, 294 yards, 4 TD’s, 1 INT
	Rushing	Tyler Badie	14 carries, 61 yards
	Receiving	Tyler Badie	10 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
Kentucky	Passing	Will Levis	10/18, 179 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	27 carries, 207 yards, 2 TD’s
	Receiving	Wan'Dale Robinson	5 receptions, 101 yards

vs Tennessee

Tennessee at Missouri

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Tennessee	28	17	10	7	62
Missouri	3	7	7	7	24

at Faurot Field, Columbia, MO

• Date: October 2
• Game time: Noon
• Game weather: Rain, 72 °F (22 °C)
• Game attendance: 45,655
• Referee: David Smith
• TV announcers (SECN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (color), and Andraya Carter (sidelines)

vs North Texas

	1	2	3	4	Total
Mean Green	0	7	7	21	35
Tigers	14	17	0	17	48

Statistics	UNT	MIZ
First downs	21	22
Total yards	493	474
Rushing yards	188	306
Passing yards	305	168
Turnovers	4	0
Time of possession	28:12	31:48

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Texas	Passing	Austin Aune	16/26, 305 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	DeAndre Torrey	24 rushes, 85 yards
	Receiving	Damon Ward Jr.	2 receptions, 81 yards, TD
Missouri	Passing	Connor Bazelak	22/33, 168 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Tyler Badie	17 rushes, 209 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	J. J. Hester	1 reception, 41 yards, TD

vs No. 21 Texas A&M

No. 21 Texas A&M Aggies at Missouri Tigers – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 21 Aggies	21	7	7	0	35
Tigers	0	7	7	0	14

at Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri

• Date: October 16
• Game time: 11:00 a.m.
• Game weather: Temperature: 56 °F (13 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NW 13 MPH
• Game attendance: 48,139
• Referee: Ken Williamson
• TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play) and Matt Stinchcomb (analyst)
• Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter TAMU – Ainias Smith 2-yard pass from Zach Calzada (Seth Small kick), 11:25. Aggies 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 22 yards, 1:58. TAMU – Isaiah Spiller 48-yard run (Seth Small kick), 7:55. Aggies 14–0. Drive: 5 plays, 89 yards, 1:33. TAMU – De'Von Achane 20-yard run (Seth Small kick), 2:43. Aggies 21–0. Drive: 8 plays, 84 yards, 3:13. Second quarter MIZ – Tyler Badie 32-yard run (Harrison Mevis kick), 8:09. Aggies 21–7. Drive: 5 plays, 66 yards, 2:34. TAMU – Ainias Smith 11-yard pass from Zach Calzada (Seth Small kick), 4:45. Aggies 28–7. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:24. Third quarter MIZ – Dominic Lovett 7-yard run (Harrison Mevis kick), 8:12. Aggies 28–14. Drive: 14 plays, 97 yards, 5:34. TAMU – De'Von Achane 1-yard run (Seth Small kick), 2:33. Aggies 35–14. Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 5:39. Fourth quarter No scoring plays

Statistics

Statistics	TAMU	MIZ
First downs	29	19
Total yards	431	328
Rushing yards	283	98
Passing yards	148	230
Turnovers	1	2
Time of possession	29:57	30:03

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Texas A&M	Passing	Zach Calzada	13/25, 148 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Isaiah Spiller	20 rushes, 168 yards 1 TD
	Receiving	Ainias Smith	3 receptions, 34 yards 2 TD
Missouri	Passing	Connor Bazelak	29/43, 230 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Tyler Badie	22 rushes 68 yards 1 TD
	Receiving	Tauskie Dove	5 receptions, 65 yards

At No.1 Georgia

Game Nine – Missouri Tigers (4–4) at No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (8–0)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Missouri	3	0	0	3	6
No. 1 Georgia	7	19	14	3	43

at Sanford Stadium • Athens, Georgia

• Date: Saturday, November 6, 2021
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: Clear • Temperature -
• Game attendance: 92,746
• Referee: -
• TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (color) and Katie George (sideline)
• Pregame line: Georgia −40.0 • Odds to win: Georgia 98.6% • Game summary: ESPN

Game information

First quarter (5:50) MIZ – Harrison Mevis 36 Yd Field Goal (Missouri 3–0) (0:42) UGA – Arian Smith 35 Yd pass from Stetson Bennett (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Georgia 7–3) Second quarter (14:12) UGA – Grant McKinniss punt blocked by Nolan Smith for a SAFETY (Georgia 9–3) (11:37) UGA – Zamir White 1 Yd Run (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Georgia 16–3) (5:05) UGA – Jack Podlesny 20 Yd Field Goal (Georgia 19–3) (0:18) UGA – James Cook 1 Yd Run (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Georgia 26–3) Third quarter (12:35) UGA - Jermaine Burton 12 Yd pass from Stetson Bennett (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Georgia 33-3) (1:15) UGA - Ladd McConkey 7 Yd pass from JT Daniels (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Georgia 40-3) Fourth quarter (7:58) MIZ - Harrison Mevis 42 Yd Field Goal (Georgia 40-6) (2:33) UGA - Jack Podlesny 25 Yd Field Goal (Georgia 43-6)

Statistics	MIZ	UGA
First downs	15	25
Plays–yards	67–273	63–505
Rushes–yards	35–121	33–168
Passing yards	152	337
Passing: comp–att–int	20–32–0	20–30–1
Time of possession	31:53	28:07

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
MIZ	Passing	Brady Cook	14-19, 78 yards
	Rushing	Tyler Macon	11 carries, 42 yards
	Receiving	Tauskie Dove	4 receptions, 84 yards
Georgia	Passing	Stetson Bennett	13/19, 255 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	James Cook	9 carries, 41 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Jermaine Burton	3 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD

vs Florida

Florida Gators at Missouri Tigers – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Florida	3	3	7	3	7	23
Missouri	3	6	0	7	8	24

at Faurot Field • Columbia, Missouri

• Date: November 20, 2021
• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: Temperature: 60 °F (16 °C) • Wind: S at 5 mph (8.0 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
• Game attendance: 47,818
• Referee: James Carter
• TV announcers (SECN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (analyst), Andraya Carter (sideline)^[2]
• Boxscore

Game information

First quarter Florida – Chris Howard 42-yard field goal, 9:49 Missouri – Harrison Mevis 39-yard field goal, 2:40 Second quarter Florida – Chris Howard 26-yard field goal, 9:35 Missouri – Harrison Mevis 46-yard field goal, 6:56 Missouri – Harrison Mevis 31-yard field goal, 1:34 Third quarter Florida – Dameon Pierce 2-yard run (Chris Howard kick), 12:52 Fourth quarter Missouri – Niko Hea 41-yard pass from Connor Bazelak (Harrison Mevis kick), 11:53 Florida – Chris Howard 33-yard field goal, 8:30 Overtime Florida – Emory Jones 6-yard pass from Trent Whittemore (Chris Howard kick) Missouri – Tyler Badie 13-yard run (Connor Bazelak pass to Daniel Parker, Jr.) Passing leaders FLA – Emory Jones – 20/32, 261 yards MIZZ – Connor Bazelak – 15/26, 165 yards, 1 touchdown Rushing leaders FLA – Emory Jones – 17 carries, 45 yards MIZZ – Tyler Badie – 27 carries, 146 yards, 1 touchdown Receiving leaders FLA – Jacob Copeland – 8 receptions, 102 yards MIZZ – Tauskie Dove – 2 receptions, 72 yards Tackling leaders FLA – Ty'Ron Hopper – 12 tackles MIZZ – Chad Bailey – 9 tackles

At No.23 Arkansas

Game Twelve – Missouri Tigers (6–5) at No. 25 Arkansas Razorbacks (7–4)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	0	6	3	8	17
No. 25 Razorbacks	3	7	14	10	34

at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, Arkansas

• Date: Friday, November 26, 2021
• Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 54 °F (12 °C) • Wind: NE 12 mph
• Game attendance: 67,320
• Referee: Steve Marlowe
• TV announcers (CBS): Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Aaron Murray and Rick Neuheisel (analysts), Jenny Dell (sideline)
• Pregame line: Arkansas by 14.5 • Odds to win: Arkansas 82.7% • Game summary: ESPN

Game information

First quarter (10:01) Arkansas – Cam Little 36 yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 67 yards, 3:22; Arkansas 3–0) Second quarter (13:27) Missouri – Harrison Mevis 45 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 11 yards, 3:53; Tied 3–3) (5:53) Arkansas – Raheim Sanders 1 yard rush, Cam Little kick (Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards, 2:50; Arkansas 10–3) (3:02) Missouri – Harrison Mevis 49 yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 44 yards, 2:51; Arkansas 10–6) Third quarter (11:13) Arkansas – Trelon Smith 4 yard rush, Cam Little kick (Drive: 3 plays, 61 yards, 1:11; Arkansas 17–6) (9:49) Arkansas – Treylon Burks 52 yard pass from KJ Jefferson, Cam Little kick (Drive: 2 plays, 52 yards, 0:16; Arkansas 24–6) (2:03) Missouri – Harrison Mevis 41 yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 51 yards, 7:45; Arkansas 24–9) Fourth quarter (11:44) Arkansas – Cam Little 23 yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 5:19; Arkansas 27–9) (9:52) Arkansas – Raheim Sanders 7 yard rush, Cam Little kick (Drive: 4 plays, 47 yards, 1:45; Arkansas 34–9) (1:25) Missouri – Tyler Badie 5 yard rush, 2-point pass good (Drive: 11 plays, 58 yards, 4:22; Arkansas 34–17)

Statistics	MIZ	ARK
First downs	19	14
Plays–yards	76–316	53–425
Rushes–yards	50–251	33–163
Passing yards	65	262
Passing: comp–att–int	10–26–1	15–20–0
Time of possession	35:11	24:49

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Missouri	Passing	Connor Bazelak	10/26, 65 yards, 1 INT
	Rushing	Tyler Badie	41 carries, 219 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Keke Chism	3 receptions, 37 yards
Arkansas	Passing	KJ Jefferson	15/19, 262 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	KJ Jefferson	6 carries, 58 yards
	Receiving	Treylon Burks	7 receptions, 129 yards, 1 TD

vs Army (Armed Forces Bowl)

Missouri Tigers vs. Army Black Knights (2021 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	10	6	0	6	22
Black Knights	0	7	7	10	24

at Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX

• Date: December 22, 2021
• Game time: 7:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: Temperature: 56 °F (13 °C) • Wind: NW 1 mph • Weather: Clear
• Game attendance: 34,888
• Referee: Derek Anderson
• TV announcers (ESPN): Tiffany Greene (play-by-play), Jay Walker (analyst) & Kris Budden (sideline)
• ESPN – Army stuns Missouri in Armed Forces Bowl on last-second FG^[3] /// Box Score, Missouri vs. Army (2021 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl)^[4] /// Pregame Notes^[5] /// Pregame Notes^[6] /// Postgame Notes^[7]

Game information

First Quarter (11:55) MIZ TD – Brady Cook 30-yard rush, Harrison Mevis kick Drive: 7 plays, 72 yards, 3:05; Missouri 7–0 (00:55) MIZ FG – Harrison Mevis 22-yard field goal Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards, 3:27; Missouri 10–0 Second Quarter (13:56) ARMY TD – Christian Anderson 22-yard rush, Cole Talley kick Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:59; Missouri 10–7 (05:59) MIZ FG – Harrison Mevis 25-yard field goal Drive: 16 plays, 67 yards, 7:57; Missouri 13–7 (00:03) MIZ FG – Harrison Mevis 39-yard field goal Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 3:49; Missouri 16–7 Third Quarter (06:35) ARMY TD – Jakobi Buchanan 10-yard rush, Cole Talley kick Drive: 17 plays, 75 yards, 8:25; Missouri 16–14 Fourth Quarter (10:20) ARMY TD – Brandon Walters 14-yard pass from Tyhier Tyler, Cole Talley kick Drive: 13 plays, 56 yards, 6:29; Army 21–16 (01:11) MIZ TD – Keke Chism 6-yard pass from Brady Cook, Brady Cook pass failed Drive: 11 plays, 83 yards, 1:33; Missouri 22–21 (00:00) ARMY FG – Cole Talley 41-yard field goal Drive: 8 plays, 51 yards, 1:11; Army 24–22 Passing MIZ – Brady Cook: 27/34, 238 yards, 1 TD ARMY – Christian Anderson: 3/4, 60 yards Rushing MIZ – Elijah Young: 13 carries, 75 yards ARMY – Jakobi Buchanan: 21 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD Receiving MIZ – Keke Chism: 5 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD ARMY – Tyrell Robinson: 1 reception, 42 yards Defense MIZ – Blaze Alldredge: 14 total tackles (5 solo, 9 assisted), 2.5 tackles for loss ARMY – Marquel Broughton: 14 total tackles (6 solo, 8 assisted), 1 forced fumble, 1 pass break-up

Statistics	MIZ	ARMY
First downs	28	21
3rd down efficiency	6–11	5–14
4th down efficiency	0–1	5–5
Plays–yards	71–433	64–306
Rushes–yards	37–195	55–211
Passing yards	238	95
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	27–34–0	6–9–0
Penalties–yards	5–40	4–35
Turnovers	1	0
Time of possession	29:00	31:00

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Seasons at Missouri	Alma Mater
Eliah Drinkwitz	Head coach	2	Arkansas Tech (2004)
Charlie Harbison	Associate head coach / defensive backs	2	Gardner–Webb (1982)
Steve Wilks	Defensive coordinator / Safeties	1	Appalachian State (1991)
Erik Link	Special teams coordinator	2	Drake (2003)
Al Davis	Defensive line	1	Arkansas (2012)
Bush Hamdan	Wide receivers / quarterbacks	2	Boise State (2008)
Casey Woods	Tight ends / recruiting coordinator	2	Tennessee (2006)
Aaron Fletcher	Secondary	1	Texas A&M (1999)
Marcus Johnson	Offensive line/run game coordinator/assistant head coach	2	Ole Miss (2004)
Curtis Luper	Running backs	2	Stephen F. Austin (1996)
D. J. Smith	Linebackers	2	Appalachian State (2010)
Andy Lutz	Director of football operations	2	Pacific (1991)
Zac Woodfin	Director of Athletic Performance	2	UAB (2004)

Players drafted into the NFL

See also: 2022 NFL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL Club
4	118	Akayleb Evans	CB	Minnesota Vikings
5	196	Tyler Badie	RB	Baltimore Ravens

References

1. "2021 Missouri Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
2. MIZZ Pregame
3. "Missouri vs. Army (2021 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl) – Game Summary – December 22, 2021". ESPN. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
4. "Scoring Summary (Final) Missouri vs. Army West Point (Dec 22, 2021 at Fort Worth, Texas)". USMA Athletic Department. December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
5. "Missouri vs. Army (2021 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl) – Army Game Notes" (PDF). USMA Athletic Department. December 19, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
6. "Missouri vs. Army (2021 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl) – Missouri Game Notes" (PDF). Missouri Athletic Department. December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
7. "Army Rallies Past Missouri for Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Title". USMA Athletic Department. December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.