Leroy Harris III blocked Blake Craig's second field-goal attempt at Kansas, and Austin Alexander returned it 88 yards. Corey Gordon had already blocked the first. Missouri won 38-21 anyway, but its field-goal unit gave away two scoring opportunities while the Tigers committed 10 penalties for 76 yards.
Troy visits Saturday, September 19, at 6 p.m. CT on SECN+. Missouri has an 87.8% chance to win, enough to expect a satisfying home evening while paying close attention whenever Craig takes the field.
Austin Simmons gave Missouri plenty to enjoy at Kansas. He finished with 292 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, with Donovan Olugbode and Cayden Lee each topping 100 receiving yards. Missouri also ran 41 times for 177 yards and allowed no sacks. Against Troy, watch for the offense to preserve both options, productive handoffs and downfield completions, without exposing Simmons to unnecessary pressure.
Robert Woodyard Jr. supplied the decisive separation. With the game tied early in the third quarter, he forced and recovered Isaiah Marshall's fumble, then intercepted Marshall on Kansas's next offensive snap. Missouri turned those possessions into touchdowns 48 seconds apart, as recorded in the official game book. Corey Batoon's defense also held Kansas to 3.8 yards per play and recorded four sacks. Fans can look for pressure and ordinary stops against Troy without counting on another pair of takeaways arriving together.
Saturday is Memorial Stadium's official 100th Anniversary Game, a home occasion worth enjoying on its own. The football expectations extend beyond the celebration. Missouri's annual win totals fell from 11 in 2023 to 10 in 2024 and eight in 2025. Beating Kansas is welcome; sustaining a reversal will take more than one September road win. SEC play begins at Mississippi State next week.
The Kansas game also showed who could carry the ball without Ahmad Hardy. Jamal Roberts started and gained 125 yards on 28 carries; Xai'Shaun Edwards added 45 on 10. Roberts and Edwards kept Missouri's running game going without Hardy. Saturday's carries will show whether Missouri continues to rely on them or brings Hardy back into the rotation.
Troy brings a reason to value every defensive stop. Jaheim Merriweather rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns against Alabama State, although the Trojans converted only three of 14 third downs. Missouri should want to make Troy sustain possessions and finish those third-down stops before Merriweather gets another chance to break through.
There is no outside result worth building Saturday around. The interactive guide has Missouri's season probabilities, with the model explained in the methodology.
Drinkwitz called the Kansas penalties undisciplined and criticized every facet of the special teams. Saturday can show a specific response. That means fewer flags that surrender yards or interrupt drives, and blockers holding their assignments when Craig lines up. Let Missouri's next field-goal attempt be decided by the kick.