The Missouri Tigers will host the Kentucky Wildcats in Columbia on Saturday to kickoff November, as the two teams will matchup for their 13th all-time meeting.
In the second game last season, the Wildcats pulled away with a 35-28 win over the Tigers in Lexington to build a 8-4 all-time series lead over Mizzou. The teams first met back in 1965 before clashing again in 2012 when the Tigers arrived to the SEC.
The Wildcats entered 2022 with high expectations after a 10-3 record last season and a win over the No. 17 Iowa Hawkeyes in the Citrus Bowl. But after being ranked as high as No. 7 with hopes of an appearance in the College Football Playoff, Kentucky has lost three of its last four and will be unranked headed into Saturday against Mizzou.
The Wildcats have failed to meet expectations on offense this season. Kentucky is averaging the second-fewest yards per game (352.6) and the fourth-fewest points (23.9).
Kentucky's strength lies in its defense, as the Wildcats are allowing the third-fewest points (19.9) and fourth-fewest yards (311.3) per game in the SEC.
The Tigers will be looking for back-to-back wins after taking down No. 25 South Carolina last week.
Live updates will appear below at kickoff.
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FIRST QUARTER
The Tigers received the opening kickoff and immediately went three-and-out after some swarming defense from the Wildcats.
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Kentucky quarterback Will Levis begins the day for the Wildcats with a 39-yard completion to receiver Barion Brown. He then connected with tight end Jordan Dingle for a 17-yard third-down conversion on 3rd and 11.
TOUCHDOWN KENTUCKY: Levis was faced with another third down on the goal line, but found receiver Dane Key for a nine-yard touchdown.
Kentucky 7, Mizzou 0
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FIELD GOAL MIZZOU: Harrison Mevis nails a 44-yarder to put the Tigers on the board.
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The Wildcats tried to respond with their own field goal. But after seven plays, Kentucky kicker Matt Ruffolo missed a 43-yard field goal.
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The Tigers were looking to respond with the favorable field position, but quickly went three-and-out,
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The final play of the quarter saw the Kentucky offense and the Mizzou defense get into a bit of a scuffle.
END OF FIRST QUARTER
SECOND QUARTER
After the scuffle, Joseph Charleston and Ty'Ron Hopper came up with back-to-back sacks to force a Kentucky punt.
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Cook took a deep shot to Dominic Lovett, but the Kentucky secondary was called for pass interference that helped extend the drive on third down.
FUMBLE MIZZOU: Cook was looking to run on third down, but lost the football without being touched as Kentucky recovered. The Wildcats were already set up in Tigers territory.
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But the Mizzou defense forced another long field-goal attempt from Ruffolo, who left it short to give the ball back to the Tigers.
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However, the Tigers went three-and-out as the offense continued to stall.
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The defensive back-and-forth continues. Cook somehow can't pick up the first on the QB sneak as the Tigers turn it over on downs down 7-3. Kentucky with a chance to build its lead here late in the 2Q.
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But the Mizzou defense continued its strong play, as the Wildcats went three-and-out to end the half.
HALFTIME: Kentucky 7, Mizzou 3
THIRD QUARTER
Kentucky picked up its biggest play of the day on the first play of the half, as Rodriguez Jr. darted through the middle for a 25-yard run.
But the Mizzou defense forced a punt three play later to continue the defensive slugfest.
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And yet again, the Tigers went three-and-out, unable to complement their defense. Things were made worse when punter Jack Stonehouse bobbled the snap and wasn't able to get the punt off, instead electing to run for the first down where he was ruled short.
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TOUCHDOWN KENTUCKY: The Wildcats used six carries from Rodriguez Jr. to take advantage of the short field before Levis found Dingle for a wide-open one-yard touchdown.
Kentucky 14, Mizzou 3
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The shortcoming for Mizzou's offense continued. Cook missed a wide-open Barrett Banister before sailed the throw on a deep shot to Burden on an ensuing third down.
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But luckily for the Tigers, their defense wasn't letting up. The pressure got home to Levis for the fifth time of the afternoon as Kentucky punted.
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Cook found freshman receiver Mekhi Miller for a 25-yard gain, the longest play of the game at that point.
END OF THIRD QUARTER
FOURTH QUARTER
TOUCHDOWN MIZZOU: After Schrader was stopped on three straight goal-line carries, Cook kept it himself on 4th and goal to give Mizzou its first touchdown of the game. The two-point try was no good.
Kentucky 14, Mizzou 9
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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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