Mark Stoops discusses being unprepared for Mizzou in 2020: 'That won't happen again'

Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats lost in Columbia to the Missouri Tigers in 2020, 20-10.

It was a big win for new Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz. Now, with the Tigers heading to Lexington on Saturday, Stoops is eager to avenge that loss.

During his Monday press conference, Stoops said he and Drinkwitz have built a friendship, but he’s ready to get even with the Tigers:

Mark Stoops on his relationship with Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz. "Eli and I have built a friendship and I like him. But he kicked our butt. He kicked our butt and that’s on my mind. I’m not going to forget that."

— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) September 6, 2021

Stoops: "Eli and I have built a friendship and I like him but he kicked our butt…I'm not going to forget…He had his team more prepared than I was…maybe he'll have some compassion for me."

— John Lowe (@JohnLoweWYMT) September 6, 2021

He downplayed any talk of a rivalry with Mizzou, then promised that the Wildcats would be more prepared this time around:

Stoops downplays a budding rivalry with Mizzou. "They were much more prepared to play than us last year and that's on me. I can promise you that's not going to happen this year."

— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) September 6, 2021

Can the Wildcats take down the Tigers in the big SEC East matchup? Tune in to the SEC Network at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday night to find out!