If you’re looking for the score of the Missouri Tigers football game, the reality is a bit of a gut punch for the Mizzou faithful. The Tigers wrapped up their 2025 campaign on December 27 in Jacksonville, and let’s just say it wasn't the offensive fireworks display fans were hoping for under the Florida sun.
The final score was Virginia 13, Missouri 7.
Yeah, you read that right. Seven points. In a bowl game. It was a weird, defensive slog at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl that left Missouri with an 8-5 final record for the year. Honestly, if you watched the first five minutes, you would’ve bet the house on a blowout in the other direction. Mizzou marched 74 yards on seven plays right out of the gate, capped off by a 5-yard Jamal Roberts touchdown run.
Then? Absolute silence.
The Freshman Factor and a Frustrating Scoreboard
Coach Eli Drinkwitz made a massive call for this game. With regular starter Beau Pribula hitting the transfer portal before the bowl, true freshman Matt Zollers got the nod. He’s the first true freshman to ever start a bowl game for Mizzou.
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He looked like a superstar for exactly one drive.
After that opening touchdown, the Virginia defense basically turned into a brick wall. Zollers finished 12-of-22 for just 101 yards. He looked telegraphed at times, which is kinda expected when you're 18 and playing on national TV, but the lack of downfield shots was painful to watch.
- Final Score: Virginia 13, Missouri 7
- Venue: EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, FL)
- Key Stat: Virginia held the ball for over 38 minutes.
That time of possession is the real story behind the score of the Missouri Tigers football game. Virginia didn't outplay Mizzou in terms of explosive talent, but they sat on the ball like a hen on an egg. They converted 13 of 23 third downs. You can’t score if you don't have the rock, and Mizzou’s defense was gassed by the fourth quarter.
Ahmad Hardy’s Bittersweet Record
If there’s one reason to feel good despite the loss, it’s Ahmad Hardy. The guy is a machine. Even with a stacked box, he managed to grind out 89 yards on 15 carries.
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That effort pushed him to 1,649 rushing yards for the season.
He officially broke Cody Schrader’s single-season rushing record (1,627 yards). It’s sort of tragic that a record-breaking performance happened in a game where the team only managed one trip to the end zone. Hardy is a consensus All-American for a reason, but Virginia's defense eventually figured out that if they stopped him, the freshman QB wasn't going to beat them over the top.
The Scoring Breakdown
- 1st Quarter: Mizzou starts hot. Roberts 5-yard TD run. (7-0, Mizzou)
- 2nd Quarter: Virginia chips away. Will Bettridge hits a 42-yarder. (7-3, Mizzou)
- 3rd Quarter: The turning point. Virginia goes on a soul-crushing 19-play drive that takes 10 minutes. Harrison Waylee punches it in from 2 yards out. (10-7, Virginia)
- 3rd Quarter (Late): Zollers throws a tipped interception. Virginia turns it into another field goal. (13-7, Virginia)
- 4th Quarter: No one scores. Total defensive gridlock.
That Chaotic Final Minute
Look, the score of the Missouri Tigers football game could have been 14-13. Mizzou had the ball at the end. Zollers actually found some rhythm, hitting Donovan Olugbode for 24 yards to get the Tigers to the Virginia 21-yard line.
Then things got weird.
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Zollers took a hit, his head bounced off the turf, and the medical staff pulled him for a concussion check. With the game on the line, backup Brett Brown had to come in for the final snap. He threw a prayer to Daniel Blood in the end zone. Blood had his hands on it—seriously, he almost hauled it in—but Virginia’s Devin Neal dislodged it at the last second. Ball game.
What’s Next for Mizzou Football?
The 8-5 finish feels like a step back after the 2024 hype, but the foundation isn't crumbling. You've got the nation’s leading rusher in Ahmad Hardy coming back as a sophomore. You've got Nicholas Rodriguez, who had 15 tackles in the bowl game, leading the defense.
The biggest question is the quarterback room. Does Drinkwitz go back to the portal, or is the Matt Zollers era officially here despite the shaky start?
If you’re tracking the score of the Missouri Tigers football game because you’re looking ahead to 2026, keep an eye on the offensive coordinator spot. Chip Lindsey was just brought in to run the offense, and his first job is going to be figuring out how to maximize Hardy while developing a young quarterback who clearly has the arm but lacks the seasoning.
For those looking for immediate action, Mizzou's basketball team is currently in the thick of SEC play. They just beat Auburn 84-74 behind a massive night from Mark Mitchell and Trent Pierce. While the football season ended with a whimper in Jacksonville, the energy in Columbia is shifting quickly to the hardwood.
Keep an eye on the transfer portal window this month. With the bowl season over, the roster for 2026 is going to look a lot different by the time spring ball rolls around in March. Bold moves in the portal usually define how these 8-5 teams jump back into the 10-win conversation.