30 Years, 30 Games, 30 Days: #26
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. 26.
Mizzou 42, Florida 13 -- Gainesville, FL -- October 18, 2014
Gaining a total of 120 offensive yards is not a recipe for winning football games. Especially on the road. By four touchdowns. But that's exactly what Missouri did in The Swamp in 2014.
Missouri entered the game at 4-2 on the season, looking for a leg up in the SEC East. They got it thanks to the defense and special teams.
Marcus Murphy ran back a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown, passing Jeremy Maclin for the school record with seven kick return touchdowns in the process. The first return came on the opening kickoff. Moments later, Kentrell Brothers forced a fumble and Murphy ran one in from five yards out to put the Tigers up two scores. They led 20-0 at halftime. Missouri had 99 yards of total offense at the break. Florida had 66.
Missouri had more points (22) than yards (18) in the third quarter. The Tigers scored on a Murphy punt return, a Darvin Ruise interception return and a Markus Golden fumble return.
Maty Mauk threw for just 20 yards and Mizzou had nearly as many penalty yards (74) as total yards (119). The Tigers managed only seven first downs. And none of it mattered.
"I've never coached in a game like that," Gary Pinkel said afterwards.
Few have.
WHY IT'S ON THE LIST: It's just so unique. Missouri's offense was dreadful. Florida's was worse. Not only did the Tigers win, but they won easily. They scored in just about every way possible in the game. The win would catapult Mizzou to a second consecutive SEC East championship.