Missouri meets La Tech for first time at Faurot Discipline

Louisiana Tech (0-0) at Missouri (0-0), 8 p.m. ET (ESPNU)

Line: Missouri by 19 1/2, based on FanDuel Sportsbook

Sequence document: First assembly

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Missouri must get off to a quick begin with a high-profile showdown at former Huge 12 rival Kansas State awaiting the Tigers in Week 2. It’s an vital season for coach Eli Drinkwitz, who has but to interrupt via regardless of stellar recruiting lessons since his arrival in Columbia. He retooled each side of the ball with a slew of Division I transfers, and hopes are excessive that every one the items come collectively rapidly. Louisiana Tech is making an attempt to rebuild after a 3-9 season that led to the departure of Skip Holtz and the hiring of Sonny Cumbie, the once-prolific passer who final season served because the interim coach of Texas Tech.

KEY MATCHUP

Missouri is breaking in its fifth beginning quarterback in 5 years in Brady Prepare dinner, although he may have loads of expertise round him. That features freshman Luther Burden III, whom many recruiting retailers pegged because the No. 1 vast receiver prospect within the nation final season. They’ll be going towards a Louisiana Tech cross protection that was quietly among the many greatest in Convention USA final season. The chief within the Bulldogs secondary is security BeeJay Williamson.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Louisiana Tech: QB Matthew Downing received the beginning job in fall camp. The well-traveled junior started his profession at Georgia, after which transferred to TCU, the place he helped to run Cumbie’s offense in 2020. Downing will likely be helped by preseason All-Convention USA WR Smoke Harris, who led the Bulldogs with 71 catches for 756 yards and 6 TDs final season.

Missouri: RB Tyler Badie was the workhorse a 12 months in the past and it might take a trio to switch him. Elijah Younger has expertise within the system however will likely be pushed by a few transfers. Cody Schrader led Division II with 2,074 yards speeding for Truman State final season whereas Nathaniel Peat led Stanford with 404 yards and three touchdowns.

FACTS & FIGURES

Louisiana Tech is opening on the street for the fifth straight season. … Cumbie went 2-3 as interim coach of Texas Tech final season, together with a 34-7 win over Mississippi State within the Liberty Bowl. … Louisiana Tech added 24 transfers, 11 on offense and 13 on protection. … Bulldogs LB Tyler Grubbs had 99 tackles as a freshman and 94 as a redshirt freshman, incomes all-conference honors each seasons. … Louisiana Tech has not defeated an SEC opponent since a 27-7 victory over Ole Miss in 2011. … Harris has caught a cross in 14 consecutive video games whereas main the Bulldogs in receptions within the final 12. … Downing is the fourth totally different beginning QB within the final 4 years for Louisiana Tech. … Missouri has 50 new gamers from final season with 31 freshmen and 19 transfers. That features 14 arrivals from Division I colleges. … Prepare dinner earned the beginning QB job for Missouri after enjoying in 5 video games final season. He threw for 238 yards and a landing within the Armed Forces Bowl towards Military. … Preseason All-American Ok Harrison Mevis was 23 of 25 on discipline objectives final season, setting a college document for greatest proportion. … Missouri allowed 229.3 yards per recreation on the bottom final season, higher than solely six Division I colleges.

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Extra AP school soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

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