Conference Big 12 Conference Coaches No. 5 2007 record 12–2 (7–1 Big 12) | Division North Division AP No. 4 Head coach Gary Pinkel | |
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The 2007 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Gary Pinkel and played their home games at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.
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The team was led by junior quarterback Chase Daniel, a Heisman Trophy candidate who finished fourth in voting behind Tim Tebow, Darren McFadden, and Colt Brennan. In the preseason, the Tigers were picked by some to win the Big 12 North.
On November 24, Missouri won their 11th game of the season by beating their arch-rival Kansas Jayhawks 36–28, in the Border Showdown at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The game sealed Mizzou's first Big 12 North division title and earned them an inaugural trip to the Big 12 Championship Game against the Oklahoma Sooners on December 1.
Until the Big 12 Championship game, the Tigers were the only team in college football to have scored at least 30 points in every game.
The Tigers won over 9 games in a season for the first time since 1969, and were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the first time since 1960. This ranking lead to the Tigers' first ever appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. The Tigers also achieved their highest BCS ranking in history, at No. 1 after the Border Showdown.
After losing the Big 12 Championship game 38–17 to the Sooners, Missouri was chosen to play Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl Classic at Dallas, in which the Tigers prevailed 38-7 to complete their 12-2 season.
Five Tiger starters were named to the Associated Press All-American teams. Senior Tight End Martin Rucker and Freshman Wide Receiver Jeremy Maclin (as an All-Purpose player) were named as first team selections, while Junior Quarterback Chase Daniel and Junior Safety William Moore were named to the second team. Senior Center Adam Spieker was a third team selection.
Coaching staff
Coaching staff from: "Missouri Tigers – 2007 Roster". CSTV.com. Retrieved December 2, 2007.
Statistics
(through Cotton Bowl Classic, Jan. 1, 2008)
Defense
Statistics from: "Missouri Tigers – Cumulative Season Statistics". CSTV.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2007. Retrieved December 2, 2007.