Mizzou Football's Top 25 Games Since 2000: No. 1-5

Mizzou Football's Top 25 Games Since 2000: No. 1-5 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

And now, what you’ve been waiting for — the final chapter in our countdown of the top 25 Mizzou football games since 2000.

While every game on this list holds a special place in Tiger history, these program-defining matchups stand apart. Every Mizzou fan will remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when these unforgettable moments unfolded.

So, without further delay, let’s dive in.

5. November 30, 2013 – vs. #19 Texas A&M

Final Score: No. 5 Mizzou 28, No. 21 Texas A&M 21

In what was, at the time, arguably the biggest game ever played at Faurot Field, No. 5 Missouri hosted No. 21 Texas A&M with everything on the line: a trip to the SEC Championship Game, senior night, and the chance for head coach Gary Pinkel to tie Don Faurot’s all-time wins record at Mizzou (101).

The Tigers were in the midst of a remarkable bounce-back season after going just 5-7 the year before in their SEC debut, and now found themselves one win away from a division title.

The primetime showdown featured a star-studded Aggies roster led by 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel. The two teams traded blows throughout, and with just over 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Texas A&M tied the game at 21.

After a few exchanged punts, Mizzou got the ball back with less than five minutes to play. On the defining drive, running back Henry Josey broke loose for a 57-yard touchdown run to seal the win and send Mizzou to its first SEC Championship Game, just two seasons after joining the conference.

While Mizzou would go on to fall to Auburn in the SEC title game, this win over Texas A&M remains one of the most important and iconic moments in the program's SEC history.

4. October 12, 2013 – at #7 Georgia

Final Score: No. 25 Mizzou 41, No. 7 Georgia 26

With over 90,000 fans packed into Sanford Stadium, undefeated No. 25 Missouri arrived in Athens as eight-point underdogs, ready to shake up the SEC East. In just their second SEC season, the Tigers stunned No. 7 Georgia to claim their first road win over a top-10 opponent since 1981, announcing themselves as a serious contender in the conference.

Trailing 7-0 late in the first quarter, Missouri scored 28 straight points, including a strip-sack by Shane Ray and a scoop-and-score by Michael Sam.

After Georgia closed the gap to 28-26 and quarterback James Franklin left with an injury, backup Maty Mauk threw a lateral to Bud Sasser who connected on a 40-yard touchdown pass to L’Damian Washington, giving Missouri crucial breathing room.

The Tigers tacked on another score after an Aaron Murray interception, and the defense sealed the upset with back-to-back picks in the final minutes.

The win not only snapped Georgia’s 15-game home win streak, but it sent a message across the SEC. Missouri, a 5-7 team the year before, was back in the national spotlight and on its way to a 12-win season, an SEC East title, and a berth in the conference championship game.

The victory marked a pivotal moment in Mizzou’s early rise within the conference and once again had fans believing.

3. October 11, 2003 – vs #10 Nebraska

Final Score: Mizzou 41, No. 10 Nebraska 24

In a game that exorcised decades of frustration, Missouri snapped a 24-game losing streak to Nebraska with a exhilarating 41-24 victory at Faurot Field.

Trailing 24-14 late in the third quarter, the Tigers erupted for a dominant 27-0 fourth, led by quarterback Brad Smith’s record-tying four touchdowns and two trick plays—including a fake field goal pass from holder Sonny Riccio to Victor Sesay that helped swing the momentum decisively.

Nebraska, who at the time had the nation’s top-ranked defense, surrendered 452 yards to Missouri who capitalized on five Huskers turnovers. Smith ended with 180 passing yards, 123 rushing yards, and a 47-yard touchdown reception off a lateral, leading the Tigers to their first win over Nebraska since 1978 and first at home since 1973.

Though Missouri finished the season 8-5, the victory was a significant moment in Gary Pinkel’s tenure—snapping long-standing losing streaks and laying the path for the program’s future success.

2. October 23, 2010 – vs #3 Oklahoma

Final Score: No. 18 Mizzou 36, No. 1 Oklahoma 27

In one of the most thrilling nights in Faurot Field history, No. 18 Missouri stunned the nation by toppling No. 1 Oklahoma, the BCS’s top-ranked team and a national title favorite.

It was Mizzou’s 99th annual Homecoming, marked by the first—and only—appearance of ESPN’s College GameDay in Columbia, which brought a record-breaking crowd of 18,000 to Francis Quadrangle that morning.

If that doesn’t give you chills, nothing will.

The Tigers got off to a hot start when Gahn McGaffie returned the opening kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Missouri capitalized on three costly Oklahoma turnovers, including two interceptions returned by Aldon Smith and Zaviar Gooden that shifted the momentum.

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert connected with Jerrell Jackson on a critical 38-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to give Missouri a lead they wouldn't give up. The win snapped a seven-game losing streak to Oklahoma and marked just the second victory for the Tigers in their last 21 meetings.

A sold-out crowd of over 70,000 stormed the field after the final whistle, tearing down the goalposts in celebration of a crucial moment in the history of Missouri football, and a night when Columbia became the center of the college football world.

1. November 24, 2007 – vs #2 Kansas

Final Score: No. 4 Mizzou 36, No. 2 Kansas 28

And finally, in arguably the most electric night in program history, No. 4 Mizzou shattered rival No. 2 Kansas’ perfect season and seized control of the Big 12 North title with a dramatic 36-28 victory at Arrowhead Stadium.

The 116th meeting of the heated Border War rivalry drew a massive crowd of 80,537—the second-largest football audience ever at Arrowhead at the time.

The matchup had all the high stakes as both teams entered undefeated at 11-0, battling not just for bragging rights but for a spot in the Big 12 Championship and a chance at the BCS National Title Game. And as always, the hostility between the two schools added an extra layer of fire.

Quarterback Chase Daniel delivered a masterclass under pressure, completing 40 of 49 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns, outdueling Kansas’ Todd Reesing in a Heisman-worthy battle. Missouri jumped out to a commanding 21-0 lead before Kansas mounted a late comeback, but the Tigers’ defense held firm, sealing the win with an iconic game-clinching safety in the final seconds.

The win ended Kansas’ school-record 11-game winning streak and propelled Missouri to its first No. 1 AP ranking since 1960, a massive accomplishment for a team that wasn’t even ranked until late September. It also set the stage for Mizzou’s first conference title game appearance in 38 years

The program-defining victory stands as the greatest game in modern Missouri football history—a night when the Tigers truly announced themselves on a national level and a moment that will live forever in the minds of Mizzou fans everywhere.

Related: Mizzou Football's Top 25 Games Since 2000: No. 6-10

Related: Mizzou Football's Top 25 Games Since 2000: No. 21-25

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.