A Big 12 Reunion, Oklahoma Welcomes Missouri

Three weeks remain before the College Football Playoff bracket is officially set and the playoff begins. In the meantime, teams are fighting for a chance to play in their conference championship game, and some are making a last-ditch push to make the playoffs. For Oklahoma, last weekend couldn’t have gone better, upsetting Alabama on the road, watching their rivals lose and get knocked out of the playoff bracket, and lastly seeing their name in the playoffs. As it stands, Oklahoma is ranked eighth in the nation, which would give it a home game. Still, the Sooners can’t get too ahead of themselves as they’ve got two more SEC games, including this week’s matchup against 22nd-ranked Missouri. Before we get into the preview, here’s a look back at their long history dating back to 1902.

A Big 12 Reunion, Oklahoma Welcomes Missouri

Former Big 12 Foes

The Sooners and the Tigers have gone up against each other 97 times. The Sooners lead the all-time series with a record of 67-25-5. Still, Mizzou has the first win in the series and the most recent win. In last year’s matchup in Columbia, Missouri, the team won 30-23 on a late scoop and score by Zion Young. Last year was the first time in 13 years that the two schools faced off. When Missouri left for the SEC in 2012, the rivalry was put on hold, but now it will occur for the next four years due to the SEC protecting rivalry games. From 1946 to 2011, the Sooners were dominant in the series, allowing the Tigers to win only 8 times. Now a new era of the rivalry is upon us, and last year’s game did not disappoint. Here’s everything to know about this year’s matchup, from keys to win to key players.

Looking to Return

Missouri hasn’t been the same team through the air since its week nine battle with Vanderbilt. Starting quarterback Beau Pribula went down on the goal line and was later carted off. Since then, true freshman Matt Zollers has been the starter, helping them go 1-1 as a starter, throwing for three touchdowns and one interception. Now, Pribula looks to return this weekend but is listed as questionable. He dislocated his ankle, which didn’t require surgery, luckily, but he is still rehabbing. Before the injury, he was throwing 1,685 yards, which ranks 15th in the SEC. His biggest issue at the start of the year was protecting the ball, as he has thrown seven interceptions. Still, Pribula’s gutsy play style makes him a difference and can cause problems for Oklahoma.

Finding the End Zone

The Oklahoma offense continues to confuse week in and week out. At the beginning of the year, it was the run game that struggled, then it was the pass game when John Mateer returned from injury, and now it’s both. Nevertheless, the Sooners are finding ways to win against top teams through their defense and kicker Tate Sandell. Still, to compete with playoff teams like Ohio State and Indiana, they will need to find the end zone more often. Currently, Mateer has eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. In the SEC, they rank third to last in passing touchdowns and 11th in rushing touchdowns. Out of the 11 passing, receiver Isiah Sategna has five of them, putting him eighth in the SEC for receiving touchdowns. Overall, Mateer will have to find someone in the end zone this Saturday if they want any momentum in the passing game going forward.