You know, looking back at the missouri tigers football schedule 2024, it’s easy to just see a 10-3 record and think, "Yeah, they did their job." But if you actually watched the games, especially that heart-stopping double-overtime win against Vanderbilt or the bizarre, defensive struggle in the Music City Bowl, you know the vibe was way different. It wasn't the explosive "lightning strike" season of 2023. It was more of a gritty, survival-mode marathon that proved Eli Drinkwitz might actually be building something sustainable in Columbia.
High expectations are a dangerous thing. Coming off a Cotton Bowl win, Mizzou fans were basically booking playoff tickets in August. The schedule looked "easy" to national pundits—which is a hilarious thing to say about any SEC slate—but the reality was a season defined by injuries, close calls, and a lot of yellow flags.
The Missouri Tigers Football Schedule 2024 Breakdown
The season started like a summer vacation. The Tigers absolutely dismantled Murray State 51-0 on a Thursday night under the lights, followed by a 38-0 shutout of Buffalo. If you only watched the first two weeks, you’d think Mizzou was the best team in the country. They didn't even allow a point! But then Boston College came to town on September 14, and things got real. That 27-21 win was way closer than it should have been, and it was the first sign that the offensive rhythm wasn't quite as crisp as the year before.
Then came the Vanderbilt game. Honestly, Vandy was a different beast in 2024, but Mizzou surviving 30-27 in double OT felt like a warning shot.
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The middle of the missouri tigers football schedule 2024 is where the wheels sort of wobbled. That trip to College Station on October 5? Absolute disaster. A 41-10 loss to Texas A&M that humbled everyone involved. They bounced back against UMass and Auburn, but the injury bug started biting hard. By the time they rolled into Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on October 26, Brady Cook was hurting, and it showed. A 34-0 shutout loss basically ended the "Playoff or Bust" conversation for most people outside the locker room.
Recovering the Magic in November
A lot of teams would have folded after getting blanked by Bama. Mizzou didn't. They had a bye week to lick their wounds and then faced the "New SEC" reality by hosting Oklahoma. That 30-23 win was one of the most emotional nights at Faurot Field in years.
Even the late-season loss to South Carolina—a 34-30 heartbreaker where the lead swapped in the final minute—didn't break them. They cleaned up against Mississippi State and then took care of business in the Battle Line Rivalry against Arkansas, winning 28-21 to finish the regular season at 9-3.
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The cherry on top was the Music City Bowl on December 30. Facing a brick-wall Iowa defense, Mizzou squeezed out a 27-24 win. It wasn't pretty. It was just winning football.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2024 Results
If you look at the stats, people say the offense "regressed." Sorta. But you’ve gotta account for the fact that Brady Cook was playing through a wrist injury that would have sidelined most people. Nate Noel was banged up. The schedule also forced them into more "grind-it-out" scenarios.
- Home Dominance: Mizzou went undefeated at home (7-0). That hasn't happened since 2010.
- The Attendance Factor: Every single home game was sold out. That’s the first time that’s happened since 1979.
- One-Score Luck: They went 6-1 in games decided by one score. Cynics call that luck; Drinkwitz calls it culture.
Key Moments from the 2024 Slate
- Aug 29 vs Murray State: The 51-0 blowout that set a high (and maybe unrealistic) bar.
- Sept 21 vs Vanderbilt: The 2OT thriller that proved Vandy wasn't a doormat anymore.
- Nov 9 vs Oklahoma: The night the Tigers proved they belonged in the upper tier of the expanded SEC.
- Dec 30 vs Iowa: The Music City Bowl win that secured back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in a decade.
Basically, the 2024 season was about proving that 2023 wasn't a fluke. They didn't have the same flashy explosive plays every drive, but they found ways to win when they were playing poorly. That's the hallmark of a program, not just a good team.
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If you’re looking to analyze the missouri tigers football schedule 2024 for future betting or just to settle a bar argument, remember that the "steady rain" beats the "lightning strike" for long-term growth. They finished ranked No. 22 in the final AP poll, and while it wasn't the playoff run fans dreamed of, it was a massive foundational year.
Next Steps for Tigers Fans:
Check out the updated 2025 roster projections to see how the team replaces departing stars like Luther Burden III. You should also look into the 2025 season ticket renewals, as Faurot Field is expected to stay sold out through next year.