Mizzou Football Faces No. 1 Georgia in Athens on November 14

Mizzou travels to Sanford Stadium on Saturday, November 14, to challenge the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs.

This road test tests whether the program can maintain its recent momentum against elite college football teams. The Bulldogs arrive with an 8-1 overall record and a 6-1 mark in conference play.

For Eli Drinkwitz, the game serves as a chance to further cement his standing in the Mizzou record books. In his seventh season, Drinkwitz holds a 52-32 mark and is already fourth on the program’s all-time wins list. He remains the only head coach in Mizzou history to achieve bowl eligibility in each of his first seven seasons.

Georgia enters the contest under Kirby Smart, who is in his 11th season leading the Bulldogs.

#22 Mizzou takes on #1 Georgia in Athens — Rock M Radio

Statistical clashes at the line of scrimmage

The outcome in Athens may hinge on how Mizzou’s offensive line handles a Georgia defense that has been historically difficult to move. While the Bulldogs’ defense allows just 14.0 points and 271.0 total yards per game, Mizzou has found success through efficient protection and high-level individual play.

Mizzou’s offensive line has surrendered only nine sacks this season, an average of 1.0 per game that ranks best in the SEC. This protection has allowed quarterback Austin Simmons to maintain an 83.8 PFF passing grade, which ranks third in the SEC. To counter this, Georgia relies on a defense that has recorded 31 sacks and forced 17 turnovers through nine games.

Missouri at Georgia Preview: Will the Bulldogs keep rolling? — ESPN College Football

The battle in the trenches will also feature several statistical leaders. The following table compares key individual performers from both programs heading into the matchup:

Player	Team	Key Statistic	National/Conference Rank
Jamal Roberts	Mizzou	1,071 rushing yards	9th nationally
Nicholas Rodriguez	Mizzou	11.1 tackles per game	2nd nationally
Cayden Lee	Mizzou	835 receiving yards	1st in SEC
Gunner Stockton	Georgia	20 passing touchdowns	SEC leader
Donta Simpson	Mizzou	90.2 pass-rush grade	2nd in SEC

Mizzou’s running game is anchored by Jamal Roberts, who leads the FBS with 909 PFF-charted rushing yards after contact. Roberts has generated 80.5% of his total yardage through contact, averaging 4.1 yards per attempt in those situations.

Mizzou faces difficult history against top ranked opponents

Despite recent successes, the Tigers face a daunting historical precedent when playing against the nation’s top team. Mizzou holds an 0-18 all-time record against AP No. 1 opponents, including an 0-11 record in road games. Their most competitive recent outing against a No. 1 ranked team was a narrow four-point loss to Georgia in Columbia in 2022.

Defensively, Mizzou must find ways to disrupt Georgia’s high-efficiency offense. The Bulldogs are averaging 41.1 points per game and have converted 39 of 44 red-zone opportunities into points. Quarterback Gunner Stockton has been particularly efficient, completing 70.9 percent of his passes for 1,857 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Mizzou Football Faces No. 1 Georgia in Athens on November 14

To mitigate this threat, Mizzou will look to linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez, who has recorded double-digit tackles in eight consecutive games—the longest streak in program history. Rodriguez currently leads the SEC with 11.1 tackles per game. He is supported by safety Elijah Dotson, who has allowed a 34.6 passer rating when targeted, the best in the SEC among qualified safeties.

The Tigers’ ability to control the line of scrimmage and limit Georgia’s explosive plays will determine if they can break their long-standing winless streak against No. 1 ranked opponents. The game is scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday.

Keep reading