What must Mizzou do?
The Missouri Tigers have won back-to-back Eastern Division championships in the mighty Southeastern Conference yet still field questions about a lack of respect on college football’s national landscape. Missouri’s 22 victories the past two seasons are topped nationally by only Florida State, Michigan State and Ohio State.
“It’s a consistency of winning and winning at a high level in a very, very difficult and competitive league,” Tigers coach Gary Pinkel said. “I’ve always brought up that you earn respect and that’s how you get it, and hopefully we’ve gained some respect. We’ll see how it goes from here.”
A gargantuan opportunity awaits Saturday as the No. 16 Tigers face No. 1 Alabama in the Georgia Dome for the SEC title.
Missouri is more than capable of winning division championships, having claimed Big 12 North titles in 2007 and ’08. The Tigers have added two SEC East titles within their first three years in their new league, but they still are seeking their first overall conference championship since sharing the Big Eight title in 1969 with Nebraska.