Missouri, meet Mr. Fournette.

Mr. Fournette, meet Missouri.

The Tigers will face a number of stellar running backs this season, but the discussion about the best begins and ends with one name. Yes, LSU’s Leonard Fournette will be the biggest load of them all. Yes, it will be a bear of a task for Missouri to stop him.

The Tigers should be no slouch in the area. Their defensive front will be a strength, and they’re coming off a year when only two opposing running backs cracked 100 yards against them. Another strong effort will be needed against Fournette and other top rushers Missouri will face this year.

Here’s a closer look at the four best running backs the Tigers will play this season:

1. Leonard Fournette, LSU: This will be interesting. Missouri had the fortune of avoiding Fournette last year, when he totaled 1,953 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns. But Missouri’s defense should become well-acquainted with the powerful runner on Oct. 1, when Barry Odom’s team makes its first trip to Tiger Stadium.

Any chance Missouri has of springing a massive upset will start and stop with limiting Fournette. Of course, that task proved elusive for most LSU opponents last year not named “Alabama.” Missouri only allowed two 100-yard rushers last season, Tennessee’s Jalen Hurd (151 yards) and Arkansas’ Alex Collins (130).

Fournette will pose a significant test for a defense that should be strong against the run again.

2. Nick Chubb, Georgia: Missouri missed seeing Chubb last year because of his season-ending left knee injury sustained against Tennessee, but it’s unlikely the Tigers will be as lucky this fall.

Chubb had five consecutive games of 100-plus yards rushing last season before that game against the Volunteers. Chubb burned Missouri in 2014 for 143 yards on 38 carries in the Bulldogs’ victory in Columbia.

Oct 11, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs the ball as Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Rickey Hatley (95) makes the tackle during the first half at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

That game marked the start of eight consecutive contests of 100-plus yards rushing for him to close the 2014 campaign.

Expect the Tigers to have their hands full against Chubb when Georgia visits Missouri on Sept. 17 in the SEC opener for both teams.

3. Jalen Hurd, Tennessee: No one hurt Missouri on the ground more last year. Hurd rocked the Tigers for those 151 yards on 34 carries in a Volunteers victory, including a long of 31 yards in the first quarter.

Nov 21, 2015; Columbia, MO, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jalen Hurd (1) runs the ball as Missouri Tigers linebacker Donavin Newsom (25) attempts the tackle during the first half at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Missouri will try to slow him down when the Tigers visit Knoxville on Nov. 19.

It will be curious to see if Missouri will have success containing the Volunteers’ multi-pronged rushing attack. The Tigers fared well against Alvin Kamara in 2015, limiting him to 43 yards on seven carries, with 20 coming on a single run in the third quarter. But Hurd will represent the top threat, and Missouri knows too well how dangerous he can be.

4. Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt: Webb came oh-so-close to becoming a 100-yard rusher in a 10-3 victory over the Tigers last year, gaining 99 yards on 26 carries. A 46-yard run in the second quarter highlighted his day.

Webb finished seventh in the SEC last season with 1,152 yards and five touchdowns on 277 carries. He produced four games with at least 100 yards rushing. He’ll try to make his presence felt against Missouri once more when Vanderbilt visits Columbia on Nov. 12.