Missouri Tigers Football

The University of Missouri football team plays college football in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference. The school joined the league in 1996 when they were part of the Big 8 Conference merger with four schools from the disbanded Southwest Conference. The Tigers play their home games at Faurot Field on the main campus in Columbia. The team has played in 25 bowl games in their history.

The Missouri Tigers lost to Navy 35-13 in the Texas Bowl on December 29, 2008.http://www.mutigers.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2009-2010/09txbwl.html<ref>

According to the Mizzou website, www.mutigers.com, the 2009 season was seen as a year of transition for head coach Gary Pinkel and the Missouri Tigers. The loss of six NFL Draft picks and the winningest senior class in school history, would lead to many rebuilding efforts for the Tigers. Among the losses were players such as Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman. <ref>http://www.mutigers.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/051210aaa.html

Although the Tigers have never had a Heisman Trophy winner, they have had many great players that have had success in the National Football League. Players that have helped raise the profile of the program include Kellen Winslow Sr., Johnny Roland, Roger Wehrli, Paul Christman, Justin Smith, Conrad Goode, Henry Marshall, James Wilder and Brad Smith. Current quarterback Chase Daniel enters the 2008 season as a Heisman candidate.

While the Kansas Jayhawks and Illinois Fighting Illini are the chief rivals for the Tigers, perhaps the most infamous game was a loss to conference rival Colorado in 1990. In that game, with the Tigers leading late, the officials lost the down and gave Colorado an extra play, which they scored on to win the game.

National.Champs.net looks at the 2010 version of Mizzou Tiger football and sees plenty of depth and offensive excitement. Mizzou will return 17 starters from its 2009 squad. Blaine Gabbert was one of the most highly sought-after prep quarterback prospects in the nation, and he is projected to continue improving throughout his collegiate career. Head coach Gary Pinkel's also has a talented running back in Derrick Washington. http://www.nationalchamps.net/2010/earlybird/teams/missouri.htm

With the Tiger's defensive secondary being rated one of the worst over the last few years, this will be an area needing much improvement if the 2010 Tigers plan to be a force to reckon with in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference.

Athlon Sports, one of the nation's top sports magazines, sees a bright future for the University of Missouri for 2010, as they will open the season at number 21 in their publication. http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/18907/2010-preseason-top-25

• Atiyyah Ellison (nose tackle)
• Will Franklin (wide receiver)
• Justin Gage (wide receiver)
• C.J. Mosley (defensive tackle)
• Martin Rucker (tight end)
• Brad Smith (wide receiver)
• Justin Smith (defensive end)