Oklahoma-Texas is the biggest game in the Big 12 Conference, right?
Maybe not this year.
The Sooners’ showdown with No. 11 Missouri at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Owen Field might have supplanted the Red River Rivalry in terms of importance.
The Tigers made certain of that with last week’s 41-6 dismantling of then-No. 25 Nebraska. Quarterback Chase Daniel through for 401 yards and the maligned Missouri defense came through with its best performance of the season.
The effort even surprised Missouri coach Gary Pinkel.
“You go into those games thinking you’re going to have to win in the fourth quarter,” he said Monday. “In most games in our league you have to. Our defense played really, really well and we executed on offense.
“Certainly I was surprised. You play a team like Nebraska, there’s no question about that. Very fortunate it came out the way it did. Those kinds of games don’t turn out that way.”
But they have for Missouri (5-0, 1-0 Big 12) this season. The Tigers have scored at least 38 points in every game this season and have passed some major tests along the way.
Their 40-34 victory over Illinois in the season opener didn’t cause much of ripple back in September. But when you consider the Fighting Illini have topped both Penn State and Wisconsin in recent weeks, as well as the fact that their only loss came to Missouri, the Tigers’ early-season resume looks a little more impressive.
Of course, Missouri was the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 North this season and has been in the Top 25 for most of the year.
The victory over Nebraska solidified it in the eyes of the Big 12. If the Tigers want to get serious about being a player on the national scene, it takes winning games like the one coming up against the Sooners.
Pinkel doesn’t believe his team has bought into the hype.
“They know we’re not a great team,” Pinkel said. “Great teams do that week in, week out. We just need to keep getting better every week. That’s what we’re trying to do. Obviously, the challenge this week will be as great as any we will have this season. It’s a great opportunity.”
But there’s no doubt the Tigers are in a rare position. Historically, the No. 11 ranking is the highest for a Pinkel-coached club in Columbia and the highest for Missouri since Oct. 17, 1981. On that day, the No. 8 Tigers fell at Iowa State 34-13.
“It’s the biggest game we’ve had here,” Daniel said. “It’s a big game because it’s the next game. As I said last week, we’re not approaching it like a do-or-die, it’s your life, you better win, if you don’t win, you’re going to be fired. It’s a football game, just go out there, have fun, play hard, do what you can and move the football.”
Missing?
Missouri may have to meet the Sooners without its best running back. Tony Temple sprained an ankle against Nebraska and a decision about his availability won’t be made until later in the week.
“Right now we have him questionable,” Pinkel said. “Hopefully, he'll be ready. He has a sprained ankle, and he's getting a lot of treatment. We'll see as the days go along.”
Temple has rushed for 351 yards and three touchdowns this season.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
Tigers' tale
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