No. 7 Texas and No. 18 Missouri will meet for the first time as conference rivals on Saturday, November 7. Both teams carry two losses each and are looking for momentum in the College Football Playoff picture. The game is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri, and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Missouri enters the contest with a 6-2 overall record and a 3-2 mark in SEC play. The Tigers have demonstrated strong home form, posting a 13-3 record against conference opponents at Faurot Field since 2023. They secured decisive victories over Florida and Texas A&M earlier in the season. Although they suffered a 31-3 loss at Ole Miss in mid-October, the team rebounded with a 34-10 win over Arkansas in Week 9 following a bye week.
Texas also holds a 6-2 record, with a 3-2 conference slate. The Longhorns have won their last two games against Ole Miss and Mississippi State. However, their offensive performance has fallen short of expectations despite their high ranking. Quarterback Arch Manning is under pressure to elevate his play, as the team spent four weeks at No. 1 earlier in the season. A breakthrough performance is viewed as essential for the Longhorns to meet their potential.
Injury concerns weigh heavily on the Texas roster. Star receivers Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman are listed as questionable due to quad and shoulder issues, respectively. Both players have started all eight games and combined to catch 11 of Manning's 15 touchdown passes. Edge rusher Collin Simmons is also questionable after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. In contrast, Missouri's injury report is largely clear.
Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy made his return last week, handling the ball twice in the win over Arkansas. His recovery from a gunshot wound adds depth to a backfield that already features Jamal Roberts. Roberts is the SEC's leading rusher and became the first player in the conference to surpass 1,000 yards this season. He recorded 138 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries against Arkansas.
The matchup presents a challenge for Missouri's ground game, as no team has averaged more than four yards per rush attempt against Texas. The defensive unit for Texas is considered the superior group on the field. The Longhorns aim to use their defense to control field position and exploit vulnerabilities shown by the Tigers in their recent losses to Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
According to the CBS Sports CFB Forecaster, a win would raise Texas' chances of reaching the College Football Playoff to 67.5 percent. A loss would drop those odds to 22.8 percent, requiring the Longhorns to win their remaining games against LSU, Arkansas, and Texas A&M to potentially secure a spot as a three-loss team. For Missouri, a victory would improve their playoff probability to 16.1 percent, while a defeat would reduce it to 1.6 percent. The Tigers conclude their season with games against Georgia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.
The prediction favors Texas by 2.5 points. Analysts suggest that if Manning manages the football effectively, the Longhorns can rely on their defensive strength to secure a win against a talented but slightly inferior Missouri squad.
