Mizzou Football Game Score: What Really Happened in the Gator Bowl

So, you’re looking for the mizzou football game score from the big finale? If you missed the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on December 27, 2025, or just didn't want to believe what you saw on the ticker, here is the cold, hard truth: Missouri 7, Virginia 13.

It was a weird one. Honestly, it was a frustrating one if you’re a Tigers fan. For a team that has spent the last few years finding ways to win the "close ones," this game felt like a step back into the mud. The offense, which we’ve seen explode for 61 points earlier this season against Central Arkansas, basically vanished into the Jacksonville humidity after the first ten minutes.

The First Quarter Tease

Things actually started off great. Like, "we might blow them out" great. Mizzou took the opening kickoff and marched 74 yards down the field like it was a light practice. Jamal Roberts punched it in for a 5-yard touchdown. EverBank Stadium was loud, the black and gold was flying, and the scoreboard read 7-0.

Then? Silence. For the next three quarters, the Tigers didn't score a single point. Not a field goal. Not a safety. Nothing.

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Why the Offense Stalled

If you want to know why the mizzou football game score stayed stuck at seven, you have to look at the quarterback situation. With Beau Pribula hitting the transfer portal right before the bowl, the keys were handed to true freshman Matt Zollers.

Look, Zollers is a talent. You can see it in his arm. But asking a kid to make his first career start in a New Year's bowl game against a Tony Elliott-coached defense is a tall order. He finished 12-of-22 for just 101 yards and a costly interception. Virginia played a "bend-but-don't-break" style that Mizzou simply couldn't crack. They outgained the Tigers 308 to 260 overall, mostly because they held the ball for a staggering 38 minutes.

The Historic Silver Lining: Ahmad Hardy

Even in a loss, we saw history. Ahmad Hardy is a beast. Period.

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Hardy needed a decent day to catch Cody Schrader’s single-season rushing record, and he did it with room to spare. He ran for 89 yards on 15 carries. That put him at 1,649 yards for the 2025 season. It’s a bittersweet record to break in a 13-7 loss, but it proves that Eli Drinkwitz has a foundational piece for 2026.

The Scary Final Moments

The game ended on a truly bizarre note. With under two minutes left, Mizzou had the ball at their own 18. Zollers actually looked poised, hitting Donovan Olugbode for a 24-yard gain to get into Virginia territory.

Then disaster struck. On a third-down play, Zollers got hit and his head bounced off the turf. The medical staff didn't mess around—they pulled him immediately for a concussion evaluation. That left backup Daniel Kaelin to come cold off the bench for a 4th-and-10 with the game on the line. He threw an incomplete pass into the end zone, and that was that.

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2025 Missouri Football Results Recap

To put this mizzou football game score in context, let's look at how the Tigers finished the year. It was a season of massive highs and some confusing lows.

• The Tigers finished 8-5 overall.
• They went 4-4 in SEC play.
• Signature wins included a double-OT thriller against Auburn (23-17) and a blowout of Mississippi State (49-27).
• Heartbreakers included a 3-point loss to Alabama and this offensive dud in the Gator Bowl.

What This Means for Next Season

The loss to Virginia is going to sting all winter in Columbia. Failing to hit that nine-win mark for the third year in a row is starting to grate on the fanbase. However, the defense showed up. Nicholas Rodriguez had 15 tackles in the bowl game—a season-high for any Tiger.

The focus now shifts entirely to the portal and the health of Matt Zollers. With Kirby Moore departing as offensive coordinator, Drinkwitz has a massive hire to make. If they can find a play-caller who can maximize Hardy's running and develop Zollers' raw passing ability, the 2026 version of this team could actually challenge for an SEC title.

For now, the record books will show a 7-13 loss in Jacksonville. It wasn't pretty, and it wasn't the ending anyone wanted, but the Ahmad Hardy era is officially in full swing.

Actionable Next Steps for Mizzou Fans:

• Keep a close eye on the Offensive Coordinator search; this hire will define the 2026 season.
• Monitor the transfer portal for experienced offensive line depth to protect Zollers.
• Check the early 2026 spring practice reports for updates on Matt Zollers' recovery from the late-game hit.