Missouri goes in front of the press to preview the 2017 football season on July 13. To lead up to the unofficial kickoff of the college football season, PowerMizzou.com will take a look back at the 30 best Tiger games in the last 30 years.
In the course of compiling this list, there was no set criteria. I looked at the most memorable games, the most entertaining games, the most important games to the program at the time. All of these factored in when I put together the list. It is an entirely subjective list sure to inspire plenty of disagreement.
We continue the countdown today with Game No. 25.
Mizzou 17, Iowa State 14 -- Ames, IA -- November 27, 2004
This is, admittedly, perhaps the most non-descript game on our list. Many die hard fans probably don't really remember it.
Mizzou had lost five straight games, the most recent a 31-14 thumping by Kansas. They were staying home for bowl season for the third time in Gary Pinkel's four seasons. The good feelings of the 2003 season were long gone.
The Tigers were playing for nothing on a miserable, snowy day in Ames (is there any other kind?) But the Cyclones had a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game on the line (these were hardly the salad days of the Big 12 North).
Brad Smith threw for 150 yards and ran for 101. The teams were deadlocked at 14 at the end of regulation...but only because of a Smith tackle. Thomson Omboga had fumbled at the Mizzou 34 and Iowa State recovered. It appeared the Cyclones might go to the Big 12 title game on a defensive touchdown, but Smith knocked Steve Paris out of bounds at the 15. The Missouri defense stiffened and Bret Culbertson missed a 24-yard field goal on the final play of regulation.
In overtime, A.J. Kincade intercepted Bret Meyer. Missouri won the game on a 25-yard field goal by Adam Crossett, ending the season 5-6.
WHY IT'S ON THE LIST: Just as the No. 30 game on our list showed the 2016 team hadn't given up on Barry Odom, this one proved that about the 2004 Tigers and Pinkel. There was little reason for the Tigers to get up for this one. Meanwhile ISU was looking for a chance at its first conference title in 92 years. But it was Mizzou who made the big plays and salvaged a season-ending win. It may not have meant much, but it showed Pinkel still had the locker room after a tumultuous season. Better days, indeed, were ahead.
