Game 10 Preview: Scouting the Missouri Tigers

Just like that, South Carolina is set for its final SEC matchup of the 2024 season.

The Gamecocks’ momentum has never been higher, coming off three straight wins over conference opponents by 20-plus points. But the team will face another tough test when Missouri, a nationally-ranked squad that still has postseason aspirations, comes to Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday.

Before the game kicks off at 4:15 p.m. on the SEC Network, here’s what the Tigers brings to the table.

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How they got here

Missouri was considered one of the top contenders for a College Football Playoff berth at the beginning of the campaign. The Tigers started the season ranked No. 11 overall in the preseason AP poll. By mid-September, they had climbed to No. 7 after season-opening wins over Murray State (51-0), Buffalo (38-0) and then-No. 24 Boston College (27-21).

That matchup against the Eagles – who now sit in the bottom half of the ACC – and a 30-27 double-overtime win over Vanderbilt the following week showed there may be some writing on the wall for Missouri. And that would rear its ugly head during the thick of conference play, as the Tigers suffered blowout losses to both Texas A&M (41-10) and Alabama (34-0). In between those two losses were victories over Massachusetts (45-3) and Auburn (21-17).

But Missouri got a significant momentum boost of their own last week, when a late comeback vaulted them to a 30-23 win over Oklahoma. The Tigers were down 23-16 at the two-minute mark in the fourth quarter, but two touchdowns – including a 17-yard fumble recovery score by Zion Young with 22 seconds remaining – helped keep them to two losses on the year.

Last time out

Like kryptonite is to Superman, Missouri seems to be for South Carolina. The Gamecocks and Tigers have faced off each season since the latter joined the SEC ahead of the 2012 season. Missouri holds a 7-5 series lead since then (and a 9-5 advantage all-time).

And the Gamecocks are in the midst of a five-game slide against the Tigers. In Shane Beamer‘s three years as South Carolina’s head coach, he has yet to earn a win over Missouri.

The last time the two teams met on the gridiron, the Gamecocks suffered their largest defeat to the Tigers. South Carolina fell behind 21-0 by the midway point of the second quarter and, despite holding Missouri scoreless during the third quarter, struggled overall to get back into the game and lost 34-12. All 12 of the team’s points that day were scored by former kicker Mitch Jeter, who is now at Notre Dame.

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Spencer Rattler completed 23 of his 40 passes for 217 yards and one interception in the contest. While the Gamecocks did not have any 100-yard rushers or receivers, Mario Anderson (12 carries, 68 yards) and Nyck Harbor (two receptions, 50 yards) led the team in their respective metrics.

Where they sit in the rankings

The Tigers are ranked in both the AP and USA Today Coaches polls. Missouri is currently No. 24 in the AP poll, the same spot it occupied last week, after receiving 176 votes. The USA Today Coaches poll also pegged the Tigers as the No. 21 team in the country with 277 votes. Missouri was also ranked No. 23 by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee in its most recent rankings.

ESPN’s College Football Power Index (FPI) ranks the Tigers No. 25 with a 10.6 FPI. Their projected record is 8.6-3.4. The team has a 0.2 percent chance of winning the SEC and a 4.8 percent chance of making the College Football Playoff this season.

In ESPN’s SP+ rankings, Missouri checks in at No. 17.

The Tigers sit 20th in the Massey Ratings. They rank 41st in offense and 21st in defense.

ESPN gives Missouri a 30.4 percent chance to win this weekend. The Tigers head into the contest as 13.5-point underdogs, according to ESPN BET.

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Players to watch

Luther Burden (Junior, wide receiver) – Burden has served as Missouri’s top offensive threat over the past two seasons. Last year, he earned First-Team All-SEC honors after finishing third in the conference in receiving yards (1,212) and scoring nine touchdowns on 86 catches. Burden has seen his yardage totals drop early in the 2024 season, though. Through nine games, he has just 505 yards and four touchdowns on 45 catches. But he is on track to be a potential first-round selection in the next edition of the NFL Draft.

Drew Pyne (Graduate student, quarterback) – With Week 1 starter Brady Cook doubtful for Saturday’s Game, Pyne could be next in line to start. Pyne has appeared in six of the Tigers’ games this season, completing 49 of 82 passes for 391 yards. He has also thrown three touchdowns (all of which came against Oklahoma) and three interceptions (all of which came against Alabama) this season. Before suiting up for the Tigers, Pyne played three seasons at Notre Dame and one at Arizona State.

Johnny Walker (Graduate student, defensive end) – Walker has emerged as one of the most disruptive forces along Missouri’s defensive line. He currently leads the Tigers in both sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (six), and he has recorded an additional 25 tackles, one quarterback hurry and one fumble recovery. Walker has spent his entire five-year college football career with Missouri.

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Path to victory

South Carolina’s five-game losing streak to Missouri will be looming large over this contest. During this time frame, no matter how strong or weak both teams looked heading into the game each year, the Tigers always came out on top.

On Tuesday, Shane Beamer pointed to physicality as one of the reasons why this was the case. Missouri has been strong in the run game over the past three editions of the all-time series – while the Tigers have gained more than 100 rushing yards in each game, the Gamecocks have been held to 69 or fewer.

But South Carolina’s ground game looks much different this season than it has in years past. Rocket Sanders is in the midst of his best run of form of the campaign, scoring a combined four touchdowns and rushing for a combined 270 yards in the Gamecocks’ wins over Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. LaNorris Sellers eclipsed 100 rushing yards against the Aggies, too. Generating yards after contact will be helpful in sustaining long drives and getting South Carolina on the scoreboard.

Physicality is important on the defensive side of the football, too. The Gamecocks’ pass rush remains one of the best in the nation, with Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart leading the charge. While Pyne may not be as flashy of a player as Cook, limiting the production of whoever is under center will set up South Carolina’s offense for success.

The offensive threats South Carolina’s defense should be most prepared for, though, are Burden and Theo Wease. Beamer has labeled Missouri’s pass-catching room “the best receiving corps in this conference.” Both Burden and Wease have the potential to turn routine plays into large gains and, potentially, touchdowns. Because of this, the Gamecocks must be strong with their tackles to prevent explosive plays.

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