OFFENSE: B-

Arkansas hadn’t allowed a point in more than two games entering Friday, and the Tigers shredded the defense for two fourth-quarter touchdowns (and a nifty two-point conversion) to win the game and the SEC East.

Missouri entered the fourth quarter with just six points, unable to run the ball and smarting from a blocked field goal. The Tigers then ran for 90 yards on the go-ahead touchdown drive one possession after completions of 44 and 28 yards set up another touchdown.

Maty Mauk took too many sacks early in the game instead of throwing the ball away, and Arkansas DE Trey Flowers played a monster game. Jimmie Hunt dropped at least two passes and bobbled another. But this unit has learned how to limit mistakes and play off the strength of the defense.

DEFENSE: A-

This group went to another level when Markus Golden’s hamstring healed. Development by the interior lineman and the entire secondary is a bonus, but having two high-round NFL draft picks bookending your defensive line is a treat. Arkansas had success early dinking down the field, and Missouri put an end to that. The huge Razorbacks offensive line never bullied Missouri, and Brandon Allen’s body slowly deteriorated as the Tigers kept hitting him.

Shane Ray’s personal foul penalty was unnecessary and extended Arkansas’ final drive, but he and Markus Golden make a remarkable duo.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C-

A mediocre Christian Brinser punt and poor kick coverage led to a net of six yards in the second quarter and set up Arkansas with a short field for a 31-yard touchdown drive. Marcus Murphy called for at least one fair catch well inside the 10-yard line and fumbled another punt. Arkansas blocked a short Missouri field goal attempt. Andrew Baggett prevented total disaster here by banging home field goals of 52 and 50 yards.

COACHING: A

Arkansas is no joke of a 6-6 team. The Razorbacks came within one or two plays of beating Alabama and Mississippi State. The team moved the ball effectively against Missouri for a quarter and a half, and then the Tigers shut them down. I don’t want to pin the narrative on “adjustments,” because I wasn’t on the sideline and haven’t talked to coach Gary Pinkel. But there’s a strong competitive attitude on this team, and in the fourth quarter of games Mizzou always seems prepared to execute. The coaches should get credit for that.

OVERALL: A

This isn’t the most dominant SEC East winner, or even a Top 10 team. (A 34-0 home loss to Georgia and a home loss to Indiana, winless in the Big Ten, proved that.) But Missouri lost its starting quarterback, starting left tackle, starting running back, top three receivers, starting defensive ends, starting middle linebacker and starting cornerbacks from last year’s 12-win team. For the Tigers to go 7-1 again in the SEC despite some significant injuries (Anthony Gatti, Markus Golden, Jimmie Hunt, Darius White, Morgan Steward) was unthinkable for most outside of the Mizzou family.