Tigers vs Cyclones

Missouri FootballPinkel: “The football team is preparing for Iowa State. They are playing very well, and are bowl eligible. Paul Rhoads has done an exceptional job with the football program. They have a dual threat quarterback, probably the best in the league, and one of the best in the country. They also have a great running back, a 1,000 yard rusher. It will be senior day for us, that’s a big deal around here.  We want to honor our seniors their last time playing at ‘The Zou.’ We are trying to play two good games in a row.  We haven’t done that yet this year. It’s going to require a lot of work, but we’re going to do it.”

MU-ISU SERIES:

MU leads, 58-34-9, and has won 2 straight and 5 of the last 6 meetings overall, including a 52-20 win in Ames in 2008 which clinched the North Division title for the Tigers.

MU vs ISU STATS - NATIONAL CATEGORY RANKINGS

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Other categories ranked in top-25.

MU: Net Punting #3

ISU: Net Punting #24, Sacks Allowed #14, 4th down conversion pct. #17

INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS (Top – 25)

Missouri:

Total offense: Blaine Gabbert #18

Receptions per game: Danario Alexander #5

Receiving yards per game: Danario Alexander #3

Field goals: Grant Ressel #4

Scoring: Grant Ressel #21

Sacks: Alden Smith #8

Tackles for loss: Aldon Smith #6

Iowa State:

Rushing: Alexander Robinson #25

Tackles: Jesse Smith #11

senior class WINS – 4 year period

Fifteen Tiger seniors will suit up for one last time at Faurot Field Saturday when they don the Black & Gold for the 2009 home finale vs. Iowa State.

This class has been a very key group of players and leaders who have helped push Mizzou to new heights. They have helped MU to 36 wins over the course of the 2006 season through now, and that is just one win shy of the MU record for any four-year period of time.  The 2008 senior class established the mark with 37 wins from 2005-08, and with a minimum of two games remaining, the 2009 class can surpass that mark (see chart below).

Now that the 2009 team is bowl eligible, this senior class is on pace to join the 1981 senior class and the 2008 senior class as the only others in Tiger history to play in four bowl games in a four-year span (Mizzou played in bowls each year from 1978-81, and repeated that feat from 2005-08).

Here’s a look at the most prolific senior classes at Mizzou, in terms of wins.

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ALEXANDER LEADS NATION IN TD BIG PLAYS

Danario Alexander is one of six D1 players who have at least 11 TD receptions. Alexander, though, is far and away the best big-play receiver of them all.

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MISSOURI RUSHING DEFENSE

With the exception of Bowling Green, MU has held their opponents to under their season average in every other game. Shown is the amount under each team has been.

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Missouri is ranked #17 in rushing defense. Iowa State is ranked #28 in rushing offense.