WHAT’S AT STAKE?
As the college football season progresses, both Missouri and Alabama find themselves in a critical phase, with their playoff aspirations on the line following recent losses that dropped them from the top 10. The atmosphere in Tuscaloosa has turned tense as first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer grapples with a rocky start, despite a significant victory over No. 2 Georgia. This upcoming matchup will mark the first time since 2007 that Alabama enters November with multiple defeats. Meanwhile, Missouri managed a thrilling comeback victory over Auburn, with quarterback Brady Cook showcasing resilience after an early injury. The Tigers, however, faced a tough challenge earlier in the season against a ranked opponent, suffering a 41-10 defeat to Texas A&M.

KEY MATCHUP
A pivotal aspect of this game will be how Alabama’s rushing attack performs against Missouri’s defensive unit. Quarterback Jalen Milroe has recently struggled to find his rhythm as a runner, even after launching 45 passes against Tennessee. Alabama’s running backs, Jamarion Miller and Justice Haynes, have provided capable performances, but they have yet to reach the extraordinary levels typically expected from Alabama’s backfield. For their part, Missouri ranks 10th in the SEC for run defense, allowing an average of 115.4 yards per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
For Missouri, Brady Cook will be crucial. He demonstrated his significance to the team by leading them to two fourth-quarter touchdowns in the recent win over Auburn, overcoming an ankle injury that led him to seek an MRI earlier in the game. On the Alabama side, keep an eye on wide receivers other than Ryan Williams. While Williams is undoubtedly the top target for Milroe, having been thrown to 18 times against Tennessee, the contributions from players like Germie Bernard, Kendrick Law, and Cole Adams, along with tight ends, become imperative as they look to support the offense.

FACTS & FIGURES
Alabama has dominated this rivalry, winning the last five matchups after Missouri claimed the first two in 1968 and 1975. This weekend marks the Tide’s lowest ranking since they fell to No. 15 following a regular-season ending loss to Auburn in 2010. The Tigers are vying to achieve back-to-back 7-1 starts for only the third occasion in their history, previously occurring in 1968-69 and 2006-07. A loss could also jeopardize Missouri’s streak of 20 consecutive weeks in the AP Top 25. On another historical note, Alabama is aiming for its 21st straight homecoming victory, with their last defeat in that scenario coming from LSU on November 3, 2001. Missouri’s defense holds strong, currently ranking ninth nationally in both total defense (273.0 yards per game) and passing defense (157.6 yards per game).