Mizzou Tigers Kickoff ’24 Schedule vs Murray St. Racers

Expectations are a double edged sword. They are a big ingredient to building a winning tradition, but you have to live up to them.

Following last season’s 11-2 Tiger campaign with wins over ranked opponents: Kansas State, Tennessee and Ohio State, and returning offensive sparks senior quarterback Brady Cook and All-America receiver Luther Burden III the Tigers are ranked number 11 nationally as the season kicks off.

Tomorrow night is game 1 this season as Mizzou hosts the Murray State Racers, who are part of the Missouri Valley Conference.

This is the third time the Racers have been to Columbia, the most recent visit being in 2013. Murray State has several players from the St. Louis area and seven total from the state of Missouri.

Things to look for:

Mizzou Tiger running backs. With the departure of almost all of last season’s top Tiger running backs, opening night will be a good opportunity for Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll to assert themselves as players who can run behind a seasoned right side of the Mizzou line behind Armand Membou and Cam’Ron Johnson. Watch to see if Noel and Carroll get targets out of the backfield for catches.

With the Tigers offense looking to get the backfield positive reps, Murray State will play closer to the line which provides opportunities for a veteran receiving corps to make plays in Burden III, Theo Wease and sophomore tight end Brett Norfleet.

On defense the Tigers will lean on senior linebacker Chuck Hicks and safeties Joseph Charleston and Tre’Vez Johnston. Mizzou always seems to develop solid defensive linemen and edge rushers. Watch to see who establishes themselves. Murray state has brought in dozens of new players from last season and will be looking for some semblance of symmetry on both sides of the ball.

Mizzou was one of the more exciting teams to follow in college football last season. Expectations are elevated for the Tigers heading into the fifth season in Columbia, MO. for head coach Eliah Drinkwitz.

Kickoff is at 7p. Follow the Tigers every week on AM 1070 KHMO.