COLUMBIA, Missouri - Before Missouri can think about
its battle for first place in the Big 12 Conference North
Division, it has to take on a perennial power in the South.
The 23rd-ranked Tigers host No. 19 Oklahoma in the only matchup
involving a pair of ranked teams Saturday.
Missouri (7-1, 3-1 Big 12 North) is in a tie for first place in
the division with No. 20 Nebraska, which visits Oklahoma State
on Saturday. The Tigers will visit the Cornhuskers next week.
The Tigers rebounded from a 25-19 setback at Texas A&M with a
41-21 road rout of Kansas State last weekend.
Chase Daniel completed 24-of-31 passes for 262 yards and four
touchdowns for Missouri, which had lost 13 straight meetings
with the Wildcats.
However, Tigers defensive end Brian Smith broke his right hip in
the third quarter and may miss the rest of the regular season.
He is Missouri's career sacks leader with 31 1/2.
Playing their first contest since losing Adrian Peterson for the
season with a broken collarbone, the Sooners (5-2, 2-1 South)
beat Colorado at home last Saturday, 24-3.
Starting in place of Peterson, Allen Patrick rushed 35 times for
110 yards and a touchdown for Oklahoma, which limited Colorado
to five first downs and 113 total yards.
Oklahoma, which has won the past three meetings and 15 of 16, is
beginning a stretch of four road games in five contests to end
the season.