COLUMBIA, Mo. — In a thrilling finish, Zion Young sealed a victory for Missouri by returning a fumble 17 yards for a touchdown with just 22 seconds left on the clock, propelling the Tigers to a surprising 30-23 win over Oklahoma on Saturday night.
With the game hanging in the balance, Triston Jackson made a crucial play by sacking Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold, which caused the ball to pop loose. Young, playing as a defensive end, was quick to react, scooping up the fumble and darting into the end zone for the winning score.
Missouri’s starting quarterback Drew Pyne stepped in for the injured Brady Cook and showcased his capabilities by throwing for 143 yards in his first game as a starter for the Tigers, who now have a record of 7-2 and are 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference. Pyne played a pivotal role in the second half, throwing three touchdown passes, two of which were caught by Theo Wease Jr., a former receiver for Oklahoma.
At halftime, Oklahoma led the game 9-3 thanks to three field goals from Zach Schmit, including a remarkable 56-yard field goal that capped off the first half.
As the final quarter unfolded, Pyne connected with Brett Norfleet on a 5-yard touchdown following a turnover by Oklahoma, putting Missouri ahead 16-9 with under nine minutes to go. However, chaos followed shortly after. Arnold caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from running back Taylor Tatum, tying the game at 16.
In a dramatic turn, during Missouri’s following possession, Sooners linebacker Sammy Omosigho forced a fumble from Missouri running back Jamal Roberts, which was scooped up by Billy Bowman Jr., who returned it for a 43-yard touchdown, swinging momentum back to Oklahoma.
Missouri’s Wease, however, was not done yet; his 10-yard touchdown catch with just over a minute left brought the game to a 23-23 tie, setting the stage for Young’s crucial late-game heroics.
This matchup marked the first meeting between the two teams since 2011, after Missouri transitioned from the Big 12 to the SEC. With Oklahoma joining the SEC this season, the longtime rivalry was renewed, although Oklahoma still holds a significant advantage in the overall series with a record of 67-25-5.
In terms of key takeaways, Missouri showed that Wease is an essential component of their offense, contributing significantly to three scoring drives and demonstrating his value with impressive season stats—90 receptions for 1,234 yards and nine touchdowns across 22 games.
On the other hand, Oklahoma faces a daunting challenge ahead, needing a win against either LSU or Alabama to secure eligibility for bowl season, putting additional pressure on head coach Brent Venables.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma will take a bye week before facing No. 11 Alabama on November 23, while Missouri prepares to battle South Carolina next Saturday for the Mayor’s Cup.