Fresh off the frying pan and jumping into the fire, Missouri is transforming from an Arkansas thriller to one of the biggest home games in football program history.
Missouri, now ranked 4th in the FCS coaches’ voting, will host 3rd in South Dakota on Saturday at Plaster Stadium at 2:00 pm.
Only once in Missouri history have the Bears finished in the top five against another top five opponent. The game took place on October 19, 1996, with the Bears finishing in 5th place and the Northern Iowa Panthers under Terry Allen in 3rd. The Panthers won 38-31 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Saturday’s game will be the most watched game between the two teams in Plaster Stadium history.
“We’re happy to be playing against the third best team in the country,” said Bobby Petrino, year three head coach. “We’ll be fired and ready to go.”
MORE: Missouri State Football vs. Arkansas Takeout: Bears Announce They’re Real in FCS Title Race
The buzz around Missouri’s football program intensified last week as the Bears nearly scored the biggest win in program history ahead of last weekend’s 38-27 victory over FBS No. 10 in Arkansas.
This performance allowed voters in the AFCA Coaches Poll to give the Bears the highest rating they had ever received in a coaching poll of any kind. This is the Bears’ third-highest ranking and the highest since 1990, when they finished second in three weeks. Bears have never been number one.
A 2-1 start coupled with a family weekend in Missouri on Saturday made the players realize that their expectations for the game were higher than usual.
“It’s definitely different,” said standout defenseman Kevin Ellis. “I just see people writing that you need to get tickets now before they sell out. I came here in 2017 and have never seen such a promotion. It’s definitely a great game and we’re looking forward to it. pack the plaster, hopefully we can get that dub.”
MORE: Missouri State’s Bobby Petrino reminds the world of his coaching prowess upon his return to Arkansas
South Dakota has one of the best defenses in the entire FCS, to say the least. Jax’s attack was slow but worked well against Baylor, who was not on an FCS scholarship.
Petrino has yet to coach South Dakota during his time at Springfield. In 2019, Dave Steckel had his last year as Bears coach when the Bears lost 35–14 at Plast Stadium, part of a seven-game losing streak to end the year.
In the spring of 2021, the state of Missouri will begin preparations for the offense of the best hitter of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. He also has one of the best FCS runners in Joplin alumnus Isaiah Davis – something the Steckel regime didn’t offer when he was in the Bears’ backyard.
“He’s a good player, he plays a lot,” Petrino said. “They have strong offensive linemen and they will go through him. He’s big, can tackle, works well in the hole. It can go in and out, rebalance and accelerate. try to find him before he starts.
Missouri’s victory will be historic as it took a 1-31 victory over five of the best opponents in its history. His only victory came in 1996, when the No. 21 Bears beat No. 3 McNeese State 12–7 on the road. The Bears missed three of their last five games and missed the playoffs that year under Dell Miller.
In any case, Saturday’s game will be historic when both teams play. Expect a huge crowd for the biggest game the FCS has to offer this week.
“It was our first (best) race here when we had some big road races,” said Petrino. I think we know how to prepare for a big game and it’s great to have him at home. I want us to fill the stadium and have a big home advantage. ”
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist for the Springfield News-Leader. You can reach him at 417-371-6987, email wwheeler@news-leader.com, or tweet at @WyattWheeler_NL. He is also the co-host of Sports Talk on Jock Radio weekdays from 4pm to 6pm .
Post time: Sep-21-2022