Missouri Tigers football facts for kids
The Missouri Tigers football team plays for the University of Missouri, often called Mizzou. They are part of college football's top division, the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
The Mizzou football team started way back in 1890. They have played in 36 major bowl games, including 11 of the biggest ones like the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl. Missouri has won 15 conference championships and 5 division titles. As of the 2024 season, their overall record is 711 wins, 590 losses, and 52 ties.
Since 2012, Missouri has been a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They play their home games at Faurot Field ("The Zou") in Columbia, Missouri. This stadium is named after the famous coach Don Faurot.
Gary Pinkel, a coach from 2001 to 2015, holds the record for the most wins in Missouri football history. He won 118 games during his time with Mizzou. Since 2020, the team has been coached by Eliah Drinkwitz.
Quick facts for kids Missouri Tigers football |
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| First season | 1890; 135 years ago |
| Athletic director | Laird Veatch |
| Head coach | Eliah Drinkwitz 4th season, 32–22 (.593) |
| Stadium | Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 62,621) |
| Field | Faurot Field |
| Field surface | AstroTurf RootZone 3D3 |
| Location | Columbia, Missouri |
| NCAA division | Division I FBS |
| Conference | Southeastern Conference |
| Past conferences | WIUFA (1892–1897) Missouri Valley (1907–1927) Big Eight (1928–1995) Big 12 (1996–2011) |
| All-time record | 715–590–52 (.546) |
| Bowl record | 16–20 (.444) |
| Unclaimed nat'l titles | 2 (1960, 2007) |
| Conference titles | 15 (3 WIUFA, 12 Big Eight) |
| Division titles | 5 Big 12 North: 2007, 2008, 2010 SEC East: 2013, 2014 |
| Rivalries | Arkansas (rivalry) Illinois (rivalry) Iowa State (rivalry) Kansas (rivalry) Nebraska (rivalry) Oklahoma (rivalry) |
| Consensus All-Americans | 14 |
| Current uniform | |
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| Colors | Black and Old Gold |
| Fight song | Every True Son, Fight Tiger |
| Mascot | Truman the Tiger |
| Marching band | Marching Mizzou |
| Outfitter | Nike |
| Website | mutigers.com |
Contents
Team History and Conferences
The Missouri Tigers football program has been around for a long time. They have been part of several different athletic conferences over the years.
Where Mizzou Has Played
- Independent (1890–1892)
- Western Interstate University Football Association (1892–1897)
- Independent (1898–1906)
- Big Eight Conference (1907–1995)
- Big 12 Conference (1996–2011)
- Southeastern Conference (2012–present)
Championship Wins
The Missouri Tigers have won 15 conference championships and five division titles.
National Championship Recognition
Some groups have recognized the Tigers as national champions in 1960 and 2007. However, the university itself does not officially claim these titles.
| Season | Coach | Selectors | Record | Final AP | Final Coaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Dan Devine | Poling System | 11–0† | No. 5 | No. 4 |
| 2007 | Gary Pinkel | Anderson & Hester | 12–2 | No. 4 | No. 5 |
† The 1960 record was 10–1, but was later changed to 11–0 because Kansas had to forfeit a game.
Conference Championship Titles
Missouri has won 15 conference championships throughout its history.
| Year | Conference | Coach | Overall Record | Conference Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1893† | WIUFA | H.O. Robinson | 4–3 | 2–1 |
| 1894† | 4–3 | 2–1 | ||
| 1895† | C.D. Bliss | 7–1 | 2–1 | |
| 1909 | Big Eight | William Roper | 7–0–1 | 4–0–1 |
| 1913 | Chester Brewer | 7–1 | 4–0 | |
| 1919 | John F. Miller | 5–1–2 | 4–0–1 | |
| 1924 | Gwinn Henry | 7–2 | 5–1 | |
| 1925 | 6–1–1 | 5–1 | ||
| 1927 | 7–2 | 5–1 | ||
| 1939 | Don Faurot | 8–2 | 5–0 | |
| 1941 | 8–2 | 5–0 | ||
| 1942 | 8–3–1 | 4–0–1 | ||
| 1945 | Chauncey Simpson | 6–4 | 5–0 | |
| 1960‡ | Dan Devine | 11–0 | 7–0 | |
| 1969† | 9–2 | 6–1 |
† Co-champions
‡ The 1960 Big Eight title was given to Mizzou later. This happened after a game they lost to Kansas was changed because Kansas used a player who wasn't allowed to play.
Division Championship Titles
Missouri used to be in the Big 12 North division. When they joined the SEC in 2012, they became part of the SEC East. Missouri has won five division championships.
| Season | Division | Coach | Opponent | CG Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007† | Big 12 North | Gary Pinkel | Oklahoma | L 17–38 |
| 2008† | Oklahoma | L 21–62 | ||
| 2010† | N/A lost tiebreaker to Nebraska | |||
| 2013 | SEC East | Auburn | L 42–59 | |
| 2014 | Alabama | L 13–42 | ||
† Co-champion
Bowl Game Appearances
Missouri has played in 36 bowl games. These include 11 of the top "New Year's Six" bowls. Their overall record in bowl games is 16 wins and 20 losses. A bowl game in 2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Season | Coach | Bowl | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | Gwinn Henry | Los Angeles Christmas Festival | USC | L 7–20 |
| 1939 | Don Faurot | Orange Bowl | Georgia Tech | L 7–21 |
| 1941 | Don Faurot | Sugar Bowl | Fordham | L 0–2 |
| 1945 | Chauncey Simpson | Cotton Bowl Classic | Texas | L 27–40 |
| 1948 | Don Faurot | Gator Bowl | Clemson | L 23–24 |
| 1949 | Don Faurot | Gator Bowl | Maryland | L 7–20 |
| 1959 | Dan Devine | Orange Bowl | Georgia | L 0–14 |
| 1960 | Orange Bowl | Navy | W 21–14 | |
| 1962 | Bluebonnet Bowl | Georgia Tech | W 14–10 | |
| 1965 | Sugar Bowl | Florida | W 20–18 | |
| 1968 | Gator Bowl | Alabama | W 35–10 | |
| 1969 | Orange Bowl | Penn State | L 3–10 | |
| 1972 | Al Onofrio | Fiesta Bowl | Arizona State | L 35–49 |
| 1973 | Sun Bowl | Auburn | W 34–17 | |
| 1978 | Warren Powers | Liberty Bowl | LSU | W 20–15 |
| 1979 | Hall of Fame Classic | South Carolina | W 24–14 | |
| 1980 | Liberty Bowl | Purdue | L 25–28 | |
| 1981 | Tangerine Bowl | Southern Miss | W 19–17 | |
| 1983 | Holiday Bowl | BYU | L 17–21 | |
| 1997 | Larry Smith | Holiday Bowl | Colorado State | L 24–35 |
| 1998 | Insight.com Bowl | West Virginia | W 34–31 | |
| 2003 | Gary Pinkel | Independence Bowl | Arkansas | L 14–27 |
| 2005 | Independence Bowl | South Carolina | W 38–31 | |
| 2006 | Sun Bowl | Oregon State | L 38–39 | |
| 2007 | Cotton Bowl Classic | Arkansas | W 38–7 | |
| 2008 | Alamo Bowl | Northwestern | W 30–23OT | |
| 2009 | Texas Bowl | Navy | L 13–35 | |
| 2010 | Insight Bowl | Iowa | L 24–27 | |
| 2011 | Independence Bowl | North Carolina | W 41–24 | |
| 2013 | Cotton Bowl Classic | Oklahoma State | W 41–31 | |
| 2014 | Citrus Bowl | Minnesota | W 33–17 | |
| 2017 | Barry Odom | Texas Bowl | Texas | L 16–33 |
| 2018 | Liberty Bowl | Oklahoma State | L 33–38 | |
| 2021 | Eli Drinkwitz | Armed Forces Bowl | Army | L 22–24 |
| 2022 | Gasparilla Bowl | Wake Forest | L 17–27 | |
| 2023 | Cotton Bowl Classic | Ohio State | W 14–3 |
Team Rivalries
Missouri has several important rivalries, both current and historic.
Current Rivalries
Arkansas
The "Battle Line Rivalry" with Arkansas started in 1906. It became an annual game when Missouri joined the SEC in 2012. Missouri leads this rivalry 11-4 as of the end of the 2023 season.
Oklahoma
The rivalry with Oklahoma is a long one. Oklahoma leads the series 67-25-5. From 1940 to 1974, the teams played for the Tiger-Sooner Peace Pipe trophy. This rivalry started again in 2024 because both teams are now in the same conference.
South Carolina
A new rivalry began in 2012 when Missouri joined the SEC East. Both schools are in cities named Columbia. The mayors of these cities give the winner the "Mayor's Cup" trophy. Missouri leads this series 9-6 as of 2024.
Historic Rivalries
Illinois
The rivalry with Illinois is popular in the St. Louis area. They have played 24 times from 1896 to 2010, with Missouri winning 17 of those games. The teams will play each other again for four years starting in 2026.
Iowa State
The rivalry with Iowa State started in 1896. They used to play for the "Telephone Trophy." This trophy was created after a funny incident where both teams could hear each other's coaching calls over the phone lines. The rivalry mostly ended when Missouri left the Big 12. Missouri leads the series 61–34–9.
Kansas
The "Border War" rivalry with Kansas is one of the oldest and most intense in college sports. It dates back to the 1850s. The teams played every year from 1891 to 2011. Missouri leads the series 57–54–9. This rivalry is set to start again in 2025.
Nebraska
The rivalry with Nebraska was also a long-standing one. From 1892 to 2010, they played for the Victory Bell trophy. Nebraska leads this series 65–36–3.
Award-Winning Players and Coaches
Many Missouri Tigers players and coaches have won important awards.
- Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (for contributions to football):
- Don Faurot – 1964
- Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award:
- Warren Powers – 1978
- Mosi Tatupu Award (Best Special Teams Player):
- Brock Olivo – 1997
- John Mackey Award (Best Tight End):
- Chase Coffman – 2008
- Burlsworth Trophy (Best Former Walk-On Player):
- Cody Schrader — 2023
All-American Players
Missouri has had 38 players chosen as first-team All-Americans. This means they were recognized as among the best players in the country. 14 of these players were "consensus" selections, meaning most major groups agreed they were top players.
- Ed Lindenmeyer, T 1925
- Paul Christman, QB 1939
- Darold Jenkins,† C 1941
- Bob Steuber, RB 1942
- Harold Burnine, DE 1955
- Danny LaRose,† DE 1960
- Ed Blaine, T 1961
- Conrad Hitchler, DE 1962
- Johnny Roland,† DB 1965
- Francis Peay, OT 1965
- Russ Washington, OT 1967
- Roger Wehrli,† DB 1968
- Mike Carroll, OG 1969
- Scott Anderson, C 1973
- John Moseley, DB 1973
- Henry Marshall, WR 1975
- Morris Towns, OT 1976
- Kellen Winslow,† TE 1978
- Bill Whitaker, DB 1980
- Brad Edelman, C 1981
- Jeff Gaylord, DT 1981
- Conrad Goode, OT 1983
- John Clay,† OT 1986
- Devin West, TB 1998
- Rob Riti,† C 1999
- Justin Smith, DE 2000
- Martin Rucker,† TE 2007
- Jeremy Maclin,† AP 2007 & 2008
- Chase Coffman,† TE 2008
- Danario Alexander, WR 2009
- Grant Ressel, K 2009
- Michael Egnew,† TE 2010
- Michael Sam,† DE 2013
- Shane Ray,† DE 2014
- Marcus Murphy, ST 2014
- Kentrell Brothers, LB 2015
- Harrison Mevis, K 2021
- Cody Schrader, † RB 2023
† Consensus selection
Retired Jersey Numbers
Missouri has honored seven players by retiring six jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team will wear these numbers.
| No. | Name | Position | Career | Ref. |
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| 23 | Johnny Roland | HB | 1962, 1964–65 | |
| Roger Wehrli | CB | 1966–68 | ||
| 27 | Brock Olivo | RB | 1994–97 | |
| 37 | Bob Steuber | E/HB | 1940–43 | |
| 42 | Darold Jenkins | C | 1939–41 | |
| 44 | Paul Christman | QB | 1938–40 | |
| 83 | Kellen Winslow | TE | 1975–78 |
Football Hall of Fame Members
Many Missouri Tigers players and coaches have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
College Football Hall of Fame
Missouri has 15 people in the College Football Hall of Fame.
| Player | Position | Induction |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Roper | Coach | 1951 |
| Paul Christman | QB | 1956 |
| Don Faurot | Coach | 1961 |
| Bob Steuber | HB | 1971 |
| Jim Phelan | Coach | 1973 |
| Ed Travis | T | 1974 |
| Darold Jenkins | C | 1976 |
| Frank Broyles | Coach | 1983 |
| Dan Devine | Coach | 1985 |
| Johnny Roland | HB | 1998 |
| Kellen Winslow | TE | 2002 |
| Roger Wehrli | CB | 2003 |
| Lloyd Carr | QB | 2011 |
| Gary Pinkel | Coach | 2022 |
| Jeremy Maclin | WR | 2023 |
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Two Missouri players have been honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which is for professional football players.
| Player | Position | Induction |
|---|---|---|
| Kellen Winslow | TE | 1995 |
| Roger Wehrli | CB | 2007 |
Team Mascot
Truman the Tiger is the official mascot for the Missouri Tigers. He was introduced in 1986 and is named after former president Harry S Truman. Truman has been named the "Nation's Best Mascot" three times!
Homecoming Tradition
The University of Missouri is known as the birthplace of Homecoming. This special event is now a national tradition in college football. The first Homecoming was held in 1911 for a football game between the Missouri Tigers and the Kansas Jayhawks. Today, the Tigers almost always sell out Memorial Stadium for their Homecoming game, which usually happens in October.
Upcoming Football Schedules
Here's a look at some of the teams Missouri will play in the future.
Conference Opponents
From 2012 to 2023, Missouri played in the East Division of the SEC. Starting in 2024, the SEC will have 16 teams and no divisions. This means a new schedule for the Tigers. In 2025, Missouri will play the same conference teams as in 2024, but the home and away games will switch.
2025 Conference Schedule
| Opponent | Site | Result |
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| Alabama | ||
| at Arkansas |
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| at Auburn |
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| Mississippi State |
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| at Oklahoma |
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| South Carolina |
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| Texas A&M |
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| at Vanderbilt |
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Non-Conference Opponents
Here are some of the non-conference games Missouri has planned for future seasons.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 | 2033 | 2034 | 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Arkansas
Aug 30 |
Arkansas–Pine Bluff Sep 5 |
Illinois State Sep 4 |
San Diego State Sep 2 |
Missouri State Sep 1 |
Southeast Missouri Aug 31 |
at Colorado Aug 30 |
Northern Illinois Sep 4 |
Missouri State Sep 3 |
San Diego State Sep 9 |
at BYU Sep 8 |
| Kansas Sep 6 |
at Kansas Sep 12 |
at San Diego State Sep 11 |
Southeast Missouri Sep 9 |
Illinois Sep 15 |
Colorado Sep 7 |
Kansas Sep 6 |
at Kansas Sep 11 |
at San Diego State Sep 10 |
at Illinois Sep 16 |
Illinois Sep 15 |
| Louisiana Oct 4 |
at Illinois Sep 26 |
Illinois Sep 18 |
at Illinois Sep 16 |
at Northern Illinois Sep 29 |
at North Texas Sep 14 |
North Texas Sep 13 |
at Illinois Sep 18 |
Illinois Sep 17 |
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| UMass Oct 18 |
Troy Nov 21 |
Florida Atlantic Oct 2 |
Northern Illinois Sep 30 |
Army Oct 13 |
Florida Atlantic Oct 12 |
at Florida Atlantic Sept 20 |
Army Oct 15 |
Images for kids
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Roger Wehrli
