NCAAF

Missouri Tigers at Alabama Crimson Tide

· NCAA - Football
6-2, 1-2 Away
Final
0 - 34
6-2, 5-0 Home

Miller rushes for 2 TDs, No. 15 Alabama picks off 3 passes in 34-0 win over No. 21 Missouri

Highlight: Balanced Bama bounces back, blasts Missouri

The Crimson Tide (6-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) bounced back strongly from their second loss in three weeks with their playoff hopes on the line. They had already lost multiple games before November for the first time since 2007 but took this one after the Tigers (6-2, 2-2) lost Cook to a right (throwing) hand injury late in the first half.

It was 6-0 at the time.

Alabama was coming off a loss at Tennessee, a down-to-the-wire win over South Carolina and another defeat at Vanderbilt.

“Knowing what we have going on this week, we really understand we've just gotta play 'Bama mentality football,” linebacker Jihaad Campbell said. “That was just the main goal.”

Jalen Milroe was 16-of-26 passing for 215 yards for Alabama. He also ran for 50 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown when he bounced off a blocker and reversed field and a 32-yarder to set it up.

Miller scored on runs of 3 and 11 yards and Justice Haynes had a 35-yard touchdown run.

Missouri backup Drew Pyne was 6-of-12 passing for 42 yards with the three interceptions. Cook had just 30 passing yards when he was injured.

“They took an X-ray and didn't feel like they were comfortable with him continuing,” Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz said.

Alabama preserved its second shutout of the season — and first against an SEC opponent since a 41-0 win over Mississippi State in 2020 — with a late goal-line stand in addition to the forced turnovers.

“They’re hunting it. They’re anticipating it a little bit,” Tide coach Kalen DeBoer said. “A little bit more of an attacking mindset, not so much on their heels. Wanted them to really get that shutout there.”

Pyne's first pass was intercepted and returned 31 yards by Malachi Moore. That resulted in the only touchdown of the first half on Miller's 3-yarder for a 13-0 lead.

“Offensively, just with Brady’s injury, we just couldn’t ever get in rhythm,” Drinkwitz said. “And obviously the turnovers really put us behind the eight ball, and just put the defense in too many bad spots today.”

The teams were a combined 0 for 12 on third-down conversions in the first half. But Alabama finally started piling up yards to outgain Missouri 486-239, including 271 yards on the ground.

Haynes ran for 79 yards and Miller 48. Richard Young had a 62-yard run on the Tide's final drive.

The backs helped take some of the load off Milroe, who had only 57 rushing yards with five interceptions over the last three games.

“Every quarterback needs a good run game, so the whole weight of everything isn’t on one guy’s shoulders,” DeBoer said.

That included Pyne, who got most of the first-team repetitions in practice leading up to the game.

“He’s trying to win the game,” Drinkwitz said. “He’s trying to put us in a position to get back into the game. And I understand that, but we just can’t put the ball into jeopardy in those situations. Ultimately, it’s on me. I've got to do a better job coaching us up in those situations and not put it on him."

The Takeaway Missouri: Had its playoff hopes squashed after opening in the top 10. The offense sputtered with Cook and was worse without him. Running back Nate Noel was also out with an injury.

Alabama: Kept its playoff chances alive with only one more game remaining against a team currently ranked.

Poll implications Alabama could move closer to a return to the top 10. Missouri's string of 20 consecutive weeks in the rankings figures to end.

Up next Missouri: hosts Oklahoma on Nov. 9 after an open date.

Alabama: at No. 8 LSU on Nov. 9.

How To Watch

How can I watch Missouri Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide?
  • TV Channel: Tigers at Crimson Tide 2021 College Football, week 9, is broadcasted on ABC.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.

Matchup Prediction

Crimson Tide: 82.4%
Tigers: 17.6%
*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Scoring Summary

ALA FG 1st Period 8:50 Graham Nicholson 47 Yd Field Goal
ALA FG 2nd Period 4:38 Graham Nicholson 39 Yd Field Goal
ALA TD 2nd Period 1:54 Jam Miller 3 Yd Run (Graham Nicholson Kick)
ALA TD 3rd Period 12:33 Jalen Milroe 9 Yd Run (Graham Nicholson Kick)
ALA TD 3rd Period 4:28 Jam Miller 11 Yd Run (Graham Nicholson Kick)
ALA TD 4th Period 11:06 Justice Haynes 35 Yd Run (Graham Nicholson Kick)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/142.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originMIZ https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/333.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originALA
15 1st Downs 22
3-13 3rd down efficiency 2-9
0-1 4th down efficiency 0-0
239 Total Yards 486
72 Passing 215
13/24 Comp/Att 16/26
3.0 Yards per pass 8.3
167 Rushing 271
39 Rushing Attempts 37
4.3 Yards per rush 7.3
5-55 Penalties 7-85
3 Turnovers 0
0 Fumbles lost 0
3 Interceptions thrown 0
30:01 Possession 29:59

Game Information

Bryant-Denny Stadium

Location: Tuscaloosa, AL
Attendance: 100,077 · Capacity:
Full Standings

College Football News

USF beats SJSU 41-39 in the Hawaii Bowl when Mac Harris knocks down a pass in the 5th overtime

USF beats SJSU 41-39 in the Hawaii Bowl when Mac Harris knocks down a pass in the 5th overtime

— Bryce Archie found Keshaun Singleton over the middle to give South Florida the lead in the fifth overtime and Mac Harris batted down a pass in the end zone to give the Bulls a 41-39 victory over San Jose State on Tuesday night in the Hawaii Bowl.

South Florida prevails in 5OT to win Hawai'i Bowl thriller

South Florida prevails in 5OT to win Hawai'i Bowl thriller

South Florida converts its 2-point conversion then gets a stop on defense to defeat San Jose State in a Hawai'i Bowl classic.

2024-25 college football bowl game, CFP schedule

2024-25 college football bowl game, CFP schedule

With the expanded playoff, the 2024-25 bowl schedule is bigger and better than ever.

Go Bowling Military Bowl Preview

Go Bowling Military Bowl Preview

The Wolfpack aim to snap their bowl skid while ECU looks for back-to-back postseason wins.

Colorado adds record insurance coverage for QB Sanders, Hunter

Colorado adds record insurance coverage for QB Sanders, Hunter

Colorado secured what it said was record insurance coverage for Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter as the star duo opted to play in the Alamo Bowl.