COLUMBIA, Mo. — It wasn’t always the clean, crisp mismatch Missouri fans might have expected after months of anticipation for Eli Drinkwitz’s second season in charge. But for the first time in three years, the Tigers will enter the second week of the season with a victory after holding off Central Michigan 34-24 Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
After morning rain showers threatened to dampen the 2021 opener, the Tigers (1-0) gave the 46,327 in attendance plenty to worry about early and often. The offense couldn’t convert a third down or sustain drives. The defense couldn’t stop the run.