Tigers secure Homecoming win, host No. 12 Kentucky next

Homecoming at Mizzou is something to see. Between the parade, the decorations on campus and all over town, and the most robust tailgating scene of the season, the school that invented Homecoming is pretty good at celebrating it.

The Tigers’ performance on Saturday was fitting of the big day, as Missouri rolled to a 65-33 win over Memphis. After Missouri (4-3, 0-3 in SEC) jumped to a 21-0 lead on a punt block and a defensive touchdown, Memphis (4-4) chipped away to close the gap to 21-17.

After Memphis then forced a fourth down on the next Missouri drive, the momentum seemed to be fully against the black-and-gold Tigers. But Coach Barry Odom, showing good feel for his team and the situation in the game, made a decision to go for it on 4th-and-1. The Tigers converted on a pass from Drew Lock to Jonathan Johnson, which was immediately followed by the best possible stretch of football you can get. The next three plays from scrimmage went: Missouri touchdown, Memphis turnover, Missouri touchdown. The Tigers again had a comfortable lead, and rolled from there.

Missouri did catch a break when Memphis running back Darrell Henderson, who entered the game as the nation’s leading rusher, left the game early on with an injury. But it was still an impressive performance for Missouri against a decent Memphis team.

Drew Lock had a great bounce-back game, completing 23 of 29 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns despite gusts of wind that felt like what you’d expect on the upper slopes of Mt. Everest. Larry Rountree ran for 118 yards on just nine carries, and big tight end Albert Okwuegbunam had a huge day, with six catches for a whopping 159 yards and three touchdowns.

Memphis is not known for their defense, but it was good to get back on track after a three-game losing streak.

Next up the Tigers host Kentucky on Saturday (3 p.m. on SEC Network). The No. 12 Wildcats (6-1, 4-1 in SEC) have been one the SEC surprises of the season, contending for the SEC East title. They’re the kind of team that’s fun to root for. The defensive line knows how to dig in. Running back Benny Snell is one of the best in the SEC, and he seems to be a genuinely funny and joyful person as well. Quarterback Terry Wilson is not an elite passer, but he finds ways to make plays and can run the ball if things break down.

Kentucky will be a challenge for the Tigers, who haven’t beaten the Wildcats since 2014. But it’s a great opportunity for Odom and his team to secure a quality win, the kind of win that gives programs momentum. But a loss would drop Missouri to 4-4, including 0-4 in SEC games, with a tough trip to Florida coming up. Missouri actually began the week as a slight favorite in the game, but Kentucky will be a tough test.