By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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They are playing good football in the “Show Me” state, with the Tigers having shown their worth.

Missouri is one of the hottest teams in college football. Since opening the season with losses to Alabama and Tennessee, the Tigers are now 5-1 in their last six games.

The only defeat for Missouri, dating back two months, is a road loss to SEC East champion Florida. With the program working in a revamped system with new head coach Eli Drinkwitz and staff, it was understandable, especially given the limited off-season, for the Tigers to need a few weeks to gain some traction. Opening with the Crimson Tide probably didn’t help, either. After finding some footing, progress which may have actually started with a more competitive second half in the loss to Tennessee, Missouri has been a notable team leaguewide.

A few aspects of the Tigers’ recent successes stand out. First, Missouri has shown an ability to win football games a variety of different ways. Good teams do just that. The Tigers recently won a defensive slugfest with South Carolina, edging the Gamecocks 17-10 in a matchup where points and production were hard to come by. Last week, Missouri outlasted Arkansas 50-48 in one of the most entertaining contests of the year, a sprint to the finish where the two sides combined for 1,219 total yards.

Rare for a young team, the Tigers have also been poised and proficient in clutch moments. Missouri is 4-0 in games decided by points or less and that is with a first year head in Drinkwitz coach and a freshman quarterback in Connor Bazelek. In their four-point triumph over the defending national champions, the Tigers held LSU four consecutive times from the 1-yard line for the win. Against South Carolina, Devin Nicholson record a late interception to preserve a seven-point advantage.

The finish against Arkansas came with even more affirmation. It was, in fact, a finish for the ages. Down two with 43 seconds left, stunned by a go-ahead two-point conversion by the Razorbacks that came off a deflection, Missouri responded with seven plays, 60 yards and a Harrison Mevis walk-on field goal. In all, the Tigers rallied for 27 fourth quarter points, marking the largest comeback in program history.

Balance has been a big part of Drinkwitz’s debut. Impressively, Missouri ranks both fourth in the SEC in total offense and fourth in total defense. For frame of reference, the Tigers are in-between Florida and Texas A&M offensively and Alabama and Florida defensively, three teams each currently ranked in the national top six. The Tigers have also often been great when it matters most. Missouri leads the league in third down defense, allowing opponents to convert just 34.9% of the time.

There is a lot to like about Missouri. Not just that the Tigers win, but how as well.

Missouri’s next test could be a telling one as the Tigers will welcome top ten Georgia to town. After joining the SEC, Missouri promptly beat Georgia in league matchup number one; the Tigers haven’t won since. The Bulldogs await as a key barometer for Missouri, a chance for the still-developing Tigers to see how they compare to one of the most proven programs in the conference and the country alike. Georgia’s defense will challenge Bazelak, Larry Rountree and the Missouri attack.

A new spotlight will be on the Tigers this Saturday as Missouri was ranked 25th in the latest College Football Playoff poll. The Tigers belong in the national conversation. Make room for Missouri.

They are playing good football in the “Show Me” state, with the Tigers having shown their worth. Point made, Drinkwitz and Missour are ready for more.