Seventh-ranked Missouri pulled off two comeback victories against Boston College and Vanderbilt, but the wins were marred by mistakes that nearly cost them the games. Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz acknowledges the need to clean up errors before facing tougher opponents like No. 25 Texas A&M, fourth-ranked Alabama, and No. 15 Oklahoma later in the season. The Tigers were either resilient or fortunate that their opponents couldn’t capitalize on their blunders.

Despite their current 4-0 record, Missouri has room for improvement, especially in executing plays on crucial downs and in the red zone, tackling, and assignment adherence. The team narrowly defeated Vanderbilt with a double-overtime victory, thanks to kicker Blake Craig redeeming himself with a 37-yard field goal in the second extra period. Vanderbilt’s Brock Taylor missed a 31-yard field goal, sealing the win for Missouri.

The game against Vanderbilt showcased Missouri’s struggles, such as blown coverages leading to big plays and special teams mishaps. Missouri’s decision-making was questionable at times, with risky plays like going for it on fourth down instead of punting, costing them points. Coach Drinkwitz took responsibility for such decisions but praised his team for bailing him out.

A week prior, Missouri faced similar challenges in their win over Boston College, where mistakes almost proved costly. Kicker Blake Craig, who was perfect against Boston College, struggled against Vanderbilt, missing crucial field goals. Quarterback Brady Cook, with 226 passing yards and two touchdowns against Vanderbilt, emphasized the team’s need to execute better and score more points in games.

Missouri understands there is work to be done to fine-tune their performance as they approach tougher matchups. The team aims to rectify their mistakes and build on their winning record.