Louisiana Tech (0-0) at Missouri (0-0), 8 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
Line: Missouri at 19 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook
Serial Record: First Meeting
What is at stake?
Missouri should get off to a quick start with a high-profile performance against former Big 12 rival Kansas State in Week 2, which awaits the Tigers. It’s an important season for coach Eli Drinkwitz, who has been through stellar recruiting classes since. Arrival in Colombia. The transfer of players in Division 1 has redefined both sides of the ball, and hopes are high that all units will come together quickly. Louisiana Tech is trying to rebuild after a 3-9 season by firing Skip Holtz and hiring Sonny Cumbin, a once-prolific passer who served as Texas Tech’s interim coach last season.
Key match
Despite having plenty of talent around him, Missouri is breaking in its fifth quarterback in five years in Brady Cook. That includes freshman Luther Burden III, who many recruiting outlets ranked as the No. 1 wide receiver in the country last season. They will face a Louisiana Tech pass defense that was quietly among the best in Conference America last season. Leading the Bulldogs’ secondary is safety BeeJay Williamson.
Players to watch
Louisiana Tech: QB Matthew Downing won the starting job in fall camp. The well-traveled junior started his career at Georgia and then transferred to TCU, where he helped run the 2020 offense. Downing will be assisted by preseason All-Conference USA WR Smokey Harris, who led the Bulldogs 71 times for 756 yards. yards and six TDs last season.
Missouri: RB Tyler Bady was a workhorse a year ago and could take a trio to replace him. Elijah Young has experience in the system but will be pushed by two transfers. Cody Schrader led Division II in rushing with 2,074 yards last season for Truman State, while Nathaniel Peet led Stanford with 404 yards and three touchdowns.
Facts and figures
Louisiana Tech opens on the road for the fifth straight season. … Cumby went 2-3 as Texas Tech’s interim coach last season, beating Mississippi State 34-7 in the Liberty Bowl. … Louisiana Tech added 24 turnovers, 11 on offense and 13 on defense. … Bulldogs LB Tyler Grubbs had 99 tackles as a freshman and 94 as a redshirt freshman, earning all-conference honors both seasons. In the year Louisiana Tech hasn’t beaten an SEC opponent since beating Ole Miss 27-7 in 2011. It’s the fourth QB sack in the last four years for Louisiana Tech. … Missouri returns 50 new players from last season, with 31 freshmen and 19 transfers. It includes 14 from Division I schools. … Cook earned the QB job for Missouri after playing in five games last season. He threw for 238 yards and a touchdown against Army in the Army Bowl. … Preseason All-American K Harrison Mevis was 25 of 23 on field goals last season, setting a school record for the best percentage. … Missouri allowed 229.3 yards on the ground per game last season, better than six Division I schools.
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