Missouri Upsets Florida
No. 25 Missouri Crushes No. 8 Florida 45-17 in Season-Best Football Game
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No. 25 Missouri dominated No. 8 Florida 45-17 in Columbia, snapping a nine-game losing streak against ranked opponents. CBS Sports Quarterback Austin Simmons threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns while running back Jamal Roberts rushed for 211 yards and three scores as the Tigers rolled out their best offensive performance of the season.
Missouri's defense was equally impressive, holding Florida's high-powered offense to just 325 total yards and shutting down star running back Jadan Baugh after his opening 12-yard carry. Fresno Bee Head coach Jon Sumrall called it an "embarrassing performance in every phase" after dropping to 4-1 in his first year with the Gators.
Missouri's Offensive Explosion Overwhelms Florida
The Tigers dominated the line of scrimmage from kickoff, generating 560 total yards—their most of the season. Kansas City Star Simmons completed 23 of 30 passes and strung together 11 consecutive completions in the second and third quarters. Jamal Roberts then broke loose for an 80-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to put the game completely out of reach.
Missouri's defense forced Florida into an uncharacteristic showing. The Gators managed only 42 net rushing yards while Missouri recorded 3 sacks. Star-Telegram Florida's star back Baugh finished with just 1 yard on 11 carries after his initial 12-yard gain—a stunning collapse for an offense ranked second in the country before the loss.
Eli Drinkwitz Finally Breaks Through Against Top-10 Teams
The victory marked a historic breakthrough for Missouri's head coach. Drinkwitz had been 0-for-10 against top-10 regular-season SEC opponents before Saturday. "It's a good win against a really good team," he told reporters afterward, downplaying the statistical significance. "The SEC is a hard league, and I'm done with that" narrative, he added.
Missouri also snapped a nine-game skid against ranked opponents overall, reasserting itself as a legitimate contender in a crowded SEC playoff race. The Tigers bounced back one week after losing to Mississippi State and now hold crucial tiebreaker advantages in conference standings.
Florida's Reality Check After Ole Miss Upset
Florida came into the game riding high after a stunning 52-28 upset of then-No. 4 Ole Miss, but Missouri's physical defense and dominant line play exposed vulnerabilities. Sumrall acknowledged the loss was his fault. "Starts with the coaching, starts with me. I'm sick to my freaking stomach with what we just did," he said, visibly frustrated after the loss.
The Gators dropped out of the top 10 and now sit at 4-1 with questions about their secondary after playing without starting safety Bryce Thornton, who suffered a lower-body injury during pregame warmups. Florida faces South Carolina next as it tries to right the ship.
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