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3 takeaways from Mizzou’s thrilling Music City Bowl win over Iowa
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Mizzou ends 2024 on a high note. The Tigers overcame a double-digit 2nd-half deficit to defeat Iowa 27-24 in the Music City Bowl, finishing the season with a 10-3 record.
The battle of black-and-gold teams gave fans one of the most entertaining games of Bowl Season. We saw a kickoff returned for a touchdown, multiple field goals from 50+, players stepping up in others’ absences, questionable coaching decisions and all kinds of back-and-forth drama.
Here are 3 quick takeaways from the bowl win:
Brady Cook goes out a winner
Mizzou’s 2024 season did not go as expected. The Tigers capped 2023 with a New Year’s Six bowl win over Ohio State, a statement victory that put the Tigers in this year’s College Football Playoff conversation.
While Mizzou entered 2024 with a high preseason ranking and Playoff hopes, things played out differently. With 3 losses, only coach Eli Drinkwitz had the Tigers in the CFP picture toward the end of the season.
A big reason why Mizzou did not have the season it planned was Cook’s battle with the injury bug. On Monday, the college football world was reminded what Cook can do when he’s healthy, as he looked more like his old self having rested the past few weeks.
Cook was healthy, but Mizzou wasn’t at full strength. To start the game, he was without key pieces Luther Burden III and Brett Norfleet. Theo Wease Jr. stepped into the WR1 role in Burden’s absence but was lost to injury at the end of the 1st half. Marquis Johnson stepped up to become the leading receiver, but even he was hobbled near the end of the game.
Fittingly, Cook found a way. He finished the game 18-of-32 passing for 287 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions. He was also Mizzou’s leading rusher, gaining 54 yards on 14 carries.
Blake Craig’s big leg delivers
When facing Iowa, special teams are going to be a factor. In the 1st quarter, it was Kaden Wetjen ripping off a 100-yard kickoff return to give the Hawkeyes a 14-7 lead.
The 4th quarter, however, belonged to Craig.
Iowa made it a 24-14 game with 5:19 remaining in the 3rd quarter. The Tigers rallied, and counted on Craig to make 2 long field goals in clutch situations.
Mizzou cut it to 24-21 before the end of the 3rd quarter. Craig would be responsible for all 6 points scored in the 4th quarter.
He was good from 51 yards to tie it up and from 56 yards to give the Tigers their first lead of the game.
Back-to-back 10-win seasons
Sure, Mizzou hoped to be playing elsewhere this postseason, but 10 wins is a strong way to go out, even if it’s just the Music City Bowl. It’s only the 3rd time in program history that Mizzou has made it back-to-back 10-win seasons in Columbia.
Having Cook as a team leader with talents like Burden in the supporting cast helped make the 21-5 showing over the last 2 seasons happen. There will be plenty of curiosity to see if Drinkwitz & Co. can keep it going as Cook, Burden and others move on for 2025. Monday’s win, though, showed there’s more to the offense than just getting the ball in Burden’s hands.
As Mizzou continues to develop its signees and look to the portal for newcomers, there’s optimism for the future.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
