Within the eighth week of the faculty soccer season, the Missouri Tigers will tackle an enchanting Vanderbilt squad in Nashville. It'll be Missouri's second highway recreation of the season, coming proper after matchups with Auburn and Alabama.
Final 12 months, this matchup went into double extra time. Missouri made it a lot more durable on themselves than it wanted to be, regardless of a powerful air and floor efficiency from Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. The Tigers pulled out a win, however Vanderbilt's core group of gamers confirmed that they may compete on the high of the convention.
Led by him, tight finish Eli Stowers and head coach Clark Lea, the Commodores will look to construct on a 7-6 final 12 months that featured wins over Alabama, Kentucky and Auburn. When the Tigers head to Nashville, slightly over the midway level of the season, Vanderbilt is certain to offer a problem.
Right here's the whole lot you’ll want to know in regards to the matchup between the Missouri Tigers and Vanderbilt Commodores.
When you will have a prolific quarterback like Diego Pavia underneath heart, life on offense will be fairly simple. However when the weapons aren't precisely elite, there's solely a lot he can do. The teaching employees made a visibly aware effort to enhance the offensive line, a difficulty from final 12 months, whereas additionally including weapons, but it surely may not be sufficient.
These additions within the trenches hopefully will repay. Liberty offensive guard Jordan White mighjt be the most effective of the bunch, recording a 73.8 cross blocking grade and a 87.6 run blocking grade. He performed most of his time at left guard final 12 months, however may slot in as a middle for the Commodores.
Isaia Glass from Oklahoma State, Sterling Porcher from Texas Tech, Bryce Henderson from South Dakota and Gunner Givens from Virginia Tech spherical out the opposite switch additions on the offensive line.
Sedrick Alexander will possible be the beginning operating again this season, who recorded 586 dashing yards and 6 touchdowns final season. He recorded 52 final 12 months of their extra time loss towards Missouri. AJ Newberry will again him up.
Tight finish Eli Stowers is essentially the most thrilling receiving risk right now, whereas additionally being among the finest at his place within the nation. He recorded 638 yards and 5 touchdowns final 12 months, a efficiency that he can enhance upon.
READ: Ranking the 3 Best Tight Ends Mizzou Will Face in 2025
Junior Sherrill returns because the staff's high extensive receiver, joined by Richie Hoskins, Joseph McVay and former Mississippi State receiver Trent Hudson. This group has so much to show, however is fortunate to have a quarterback like Pavia to throw to them.
The defensive facet of the ball will possible be the strongest for the Commodores, led by defensive coordinator Steve Gregory and a dynamic group of linebackers. His skilled trio in the course of the sphere of Bryan Longwell, Langston Patterson and Randon Fontenette ought to assist clear up any errors the protection makes.
Fontenette has the pliability to play everywhere in the subject, starting from enjoying security to coming off the sting. He, paired up with Miles Capers, ought to make for a second-straight 12 months of an enchanting pass-rushing duo. Once you add in Khordae Sydnor on the sting and Glenn Seabrooks on the inside, the Commodores could have a sneakily good entrance line.
Their secondary may pose some questions. Former Tennessee switch nook Jordan Matthews is arguably the most effective switch addition on protection, together with former Alabama edge Keanu Koht, however even Matthews lacks some expertise as a starter.
Matthews will possible be joined by Martel Hight at cornerback, together with Dontae Carter and Florida Atlantic switch CJ Heard at security. The extent of expertise and expertise could also be questioned right here, however there’s a excessive ceiling for them.
Vanderbilt's protection definitely is nice, however whether or not they can cling with a few of the finest SEC offenses can be fascinating to observe. They'll have a lot to show underneath a possible make-or-break 12 months for Clark Lea.
Vanderbilt can be coming off video games towards Alabama and LSU, so, in some methods, their matchup with Missouri may give them time to breathe. They face Texas and Auburn, the 2 video games after, nonetheless, so there gained't be any time for slowing down. This presents as a must-win for the Commodores, who will look to tug off some upsets of their different matchups.
The Tigers have Alabama and Auburn earlier than they head to Nashville. In the event that they win each of these video games, they'll have elevated odds at a playoff spot and can possible be feeling on high of the world. If Missouri misplaced to Vanderbilt on this situation, that may merely be a nightmare.
The Commodores confirmed final season that they aren't to be taken evenly, and so they'll return a great chunk of their roster from final season. Missouri ought to nonetheless enter Nashville as the favourite to win the sport, however Vanderbilt definitely can push the Tigers to their restrict.
If this can be a recreation that heads to extra time as soon as once more, you'd need to assume that Vanderbilt turns into the favourite. With their dwelling crowd behind them and a few momentum with the possibility for a giant win, issues may definitely spiral for Missouri.
Date: Saturday, Oct. 25
Time: Flex (2:30-3:30 p.m., 5 p.m.-7 p.m.)
TV: TBA
Location: FirstBank Stadium
Sequence historical past: Missouri leads 12-4-1
Head coach: Clark Lea, fifth 12 months, 16-33
Offensive coordinator: Tim Beck, third 12 months
Defensive coordinator: Steve Gregory, first 12 months
2024 report: 7-6
2024 FBS rankings: No. 78 scoring offense, No. 60 scoring protection
High Newcomer: OG Jordan White, transferring from Liberty
Greatest Query: Can Pavia, Stowers take their offense to the following stage?
Gamers to Watch: QB Diego Pavia, TE Eli Stowers, LB Langston Patterson
Returning Starters: 11 (six offense, 5 protection)
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Based: 1873
Enrollment: 13,710
Nickname: Commodores
Colours: Gold and Black
Mascot: Mr. Commodore
Final Time Beat Missouri: 2019
Final Time Gained SEC: By no means
Playoff appearances: Zero.
Nationwide Championships: Zero
Convention Championships: 14 complete, 12 in SIAA, 2 in Southern Convention: 1897,1901, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1915, 1921, 1922, 1925
Bowl Report: 5-4-1
Final Time Made Bowl: 2024
Heisman Winners: None
2025: No. 77
2024: No. 40
2023: No. 53
2022: No. 32
Aug. 30: vs Charleston Southern
Sept. 6: at Virginia Tech
Sept. 13: at South Carolina
Sept. 20: vs. Georgia State
Sept. 27: vs. Utah State
Oct. 4: at Alabama
Oct. 18: vs. LSU
Oct. 25: vs. Missouri
Nov. 1: at Texas
Nov. 8: vs. Auburn
Nov. 22: vs. Kentucky
Nov. 29: at Tennessee
That is the eight story in MissouriOnSI's summer season preview collection of all 12 common season opponents for Missouri soccer in 2025. Ensuing tales can be printed all through June and early July.
Opponent Preview Sequence: Central Arkansas | Kansas | Louisiana | South Carolina | UMass | Alabama | Auburn
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Michael Stamps is attending the College of Missouri pursuing a level in journalism. He joined Missouri Tigers On SI as a recruiting author in 2023, however his beats have subsequently included soccer and basketball. Michael is from Papillion, Nebraska.
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