No. 23 Mizzou gets back into win column with Battle Line victory over Arkansas
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KMIZ)
The Battle Line Trophy will return to Columbia a fifth straight season, after No. 23 Mizzou's 34-10 win over Arkansas on Saturday.
With that win, head coach Eli Drinkwitz and company improve to 6-2 on the season and extend their winning streak to 29-straight victories over unranked opponents, which is the longest active streak in the FBS.
Mizzou's trip to Arkansas started about as nice as the weather that hung over Fayetteville. Through the rain and fog, the Tigers struggled to get any real momentum going offensively in the first half, but that didn't stop them from taking the lead over the rival Razorbacks.
After a 31-yard field goal from Blake Craig put the Tigers up 3-0 in the first quarter, MU's "Death Row Defense" put some cushion on their lead. When Arkansas' snap went wild, Tiger defensive end Darris Smith jumped on top of the loose ball in the end zone for a defensive touchdown. That gave MU a 10-0 advantage.
The only other points in the first half came off the leg of Craig, as he drilled a 53-yarder in the second quarter, as Mizzou went into halftime up 13-7.
Despite the struggle to get going offensively in the first two quarters, the first half did have a big-time highlight in the backfield. All-American running back Ahmad Hardy got back into his first game since 2025, tallying three carries for 42 yards and a first down. Of course, his return was his first time on the field since getting shot in the leg at a concert in Mississippi in May.
After halftime, though, the Mizzou offense came to life.
Quarterback Austin Simmons finally found the explosive plays his unit had been looking for, ending an eight-play, 75-yard drive with a tremendous touchdown toss to receiver Donovan Olugbode at the back of the end zone. That end zone trip put Mizzou up 20-7 and also marked the team's first offensive touchdown in six quarters.
Running back Jamal Roberts added on a couple more touchdowns in the second half to cement Mizzou's routing of the rival Razorbacks, as he ended up with one rushing score and 138 yards on 23 carries and one receiving touchdown, as well. Roberts has now rushed for 1,000 yards on the 2026 season.
Simmons finished the day with 179 yards and a pair of touchdowns on a 66 percent completion percentage.
Defensively, the Tigers were led by linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez, once again. He ended the game with nine total tackles (three solo) and a forced fumble. The Tigers also had another takeaway in Saturday's game, thanks to safety Trajen Greco's third interception of the season, which led to Craig's first field goal to take the lead.
Up next - Coach Drinkwitz and his team will return to Columbia for a meeting with No. 11 Texas at Faurot Field. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
