COLUMBIA, Mo. — No. 8 Alabama rode a late-game surge and outlasted a feisty No. 14 Missouri team to improve to 5-1 with a 27-24 win Saturday afternoon. The Crimson Tide have now won five straight games, including three consecutive victories over AP-ranked opponents, since their season-opening setback against Florida State.
Missouri had a chance to win or tie it late in the fourth quarter, but Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula threw an interception to freshman cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. that then allowed Alabama to kneel the clock out.
Though it felt like Alabama dominated the first half, the Crimson Tide entered halftime with a narrow 17-10 lead. Missouri quickly eliminated that advantage in the third quarter when it turned a strip-sack of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson into a five-yard rushing touchdown from Pribula to tie the game.
From there, Alabama decided to keep the ball out of Missouri’s hands. The Crimson Tide had a 9-minute drive that consumed most of the third quarter by the time it ended with a 22-yard field goal from Conor Talty.
Alabama’s defense took over from there. The Crimson Tide forced two straight turnovers — an interception and a failed fourth-down conversion — on Missouri’s first two drives of the fourth quarter.
That allowed Alabama’s offensiv to embark on an ultimately decisive eight-play touchdown drive that left just over three minutes on the clock. Simpson converted two fourth downs, including a fourth-and-8 that extended the drive and a fourth-and-goal that resulted in a touchdown connection with running back Daniel Hill.
Simpson continued to show why he’s one of the best players in the nation. He was smooth operating against a strong Missouri defense, as he completed 23 of his 31 pass attempts for 200 yards and three touchdowns while withstanding some serious pressure from Missouri’s defensive front.
Saturday’s result served as Missouri’s first loss of the year. The Tigers are now 5-1, including a 1-1 mark in SEC play.
- This loss snaps a 15-game home winning streak for Missouri.
- This is the first time in program history that Alabama has started 3-0 in SEC play with all three wins coming against AP-ranked teams.
- Alabama has now won seven straight games against Missouri. It hasn’t lost to the Tigers since 1975.
- Alabama is 6-1 against AP-ranked teams under coach Kalen DeBoer, the second-best record in the FBS since he took over.
Scroll down for highlights and CBS Sports analysis as Alabama fended off Missouri in a marquee Week 7 showdown.
