The 1941 season was one of the most important transitional years in college football history, even if nobody really knew it at the time. It is the year where Mizzou arguably impacted college football more than it ever had before, and ever would again. It was the year that Don Faurot unveiled the Split-T formation.
He did not do it because he thought it would change football, of course — he did it because he had just lost his star player (Paul Christman) and needed to figure out creative ways to move the ball down the field.
Mizzou had enough potential that it was named Big 6 conference co-favorite.