Missouri looks for rare offensive consistency when it wraps up its regular season with a Southeastern Conference game against Arkansas on Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark.
Missouri (7-4, 3-4 SEC) is coming off a 17-6 loss at then-No. 8 Oklahoma last weekend. The Tigers were kept out of the end zone for the first time this season as Beau Pribula completed 20 of 36 passes for 231 yards. He threw two interceptions and was sacked four times.
The Tigers posted a 301-276 edge in yards gained, yet couldn’t string together a scoring drive thanks to a 3-for-15 effort on third downs.
“During moments in the game where we need to rely on (our offense), it hasn’t come through like we wanted it,” said Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz, who agreed to a new contract this week.
“But we still have the opportunity in the last two games to get it fixed and that’s what we are working on.”
While the Tigers are vying for bowl position, the Razorbacks (2-9, 0-7) are playing out the string, still in search of their first SEC win and trying to snap a nine-game losing streak.
Interim coach Bobby Petrino said he might not announce his starting quarterback until game time.
“We’ve got to play it out in practice and make sure everyone is in good shape,” Petrino said. “… We’ll just work it and see who is ready to go.”
Taylen Green has a 61.3% completion rate this season to go along with 2,655 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions through 11 games. He has also rushed for 775 yards on 130 attempts with eight scores.
In last week’s 52-37 loss at Texas, KJ Jackson completed 16 of 29 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown. The redshirt freshman has thrown for 315 yards with two passing TDs while rushing for 45 yards and two scores.
Green started against the Longhorns but left with an injury. After he was cleared to re-enter the game, Petrino opted to stick with Jackson.
“I said, ‘No, we will stay with KJ,'” Petrino said. “I thought he earned it. He took the ball, drove us down for three scores. With him in the game we scored two touchdowns and a field goal. I thought he did a good job.”
Multiple reports this week said Arkansas was finalizing negotiations to hire South Florida’s Alex Golesh as its next head coach.
