Gameday Preview: No. 11 Mizzou Begins New Season Against Murray State

The University of Missouri football team will begin its 2024 season, Thursday night at Faurot Field with a non-conference game against Murray State.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be televised live on the SEC Network.

Led by fifth-year head coach Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri will enter the new season ranked No. 11 in the country by both the Associated Press and USA Today. That is the highest preseason ranked Mizzou has had since 2008, when the Tigers began the year ranked No. 8.

Murray State will be playing its first game under new head coach Jody Wright, who took over the program in January.

Missouri is coming off an 11-2 season, which culminated in a 14-3 Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State, which helped the Tigers finish last season ranked No. 8 in the country. Murray State went 2-9 last year after losing its final seven games.

Thursday's meeting will be the third all-time between the Tigers and Racers. Missouri won the previous two -- 47-7 in 2006 and 58-14 in 2013.

Players to Watch: Missouri brings back 12 starters from last year's team, including eight on offense.

St. Louis-area natives QB Brady Cook and WR Luther Burden III will be back to lead the Mizzou offense. Last year, Cook threw for 3,317 yards and 21 touchdowns, while also rushing for 319 yards and eight scores.

Burden, a first-team preseason All-American pick, led the Tigers with 86 catches for 1,212 yards and nine receiving touchdowns. Other potent receivers Theo Wease, Mookie Cooper, and Marquis Johnson, along with tight end Brett Norfleet will also be back this year.

The one question for Mizzou's offense is who will take over at running back, following the graduation of last year's SEC rushing champion Cody Schrader. The Tigers brought in a couple of transfers and a couple of freshman to fight for the job.

To begin Thursday's game, Missouri will start Appalachian State transfer Nate Noel, who will platoon with Georgia State transfer Marcus Carroll. Freshman Jamal Roberts, another native St. Louisan, will also see some action on Thursday.

The Missouri defense will feature three returning starters in the defensive backfield. Safeties Daylan Carnell and Joseph Charleston, along with cornerback Dreyden Norwood are expected to lead a group that adds newcomer Toriano Pride that some consider one of the best in the SEC heading into the new season.

On the D-line, grad student Johnny Walker, Jr., returns after registering 43 tackles, 9.5 for loss, and five quarterback sacks last year.

Murray State has a almost completely new roster. The Racers have 65 new players on the team, including 46 transfers.

New quarterback Jaden Johannsen was at North Dakota State last year and new starting tailback Jordan Washington is a true freshman from Helena, Ala.

Murray State's defense will be led by senior safety Kanyon Walker, a Missouri Valley Football Conference Preseason Honorable Mention selection.

When Missouri Has the Ball

Missouri’s Offense vs. Murray State’s Defense

When Murray State Has the Ball

Missouri’s Defense vs. Murray State’s Offense

Up Next: Mizzou will be back at home next week. The Tigers will host Buffalo on Saturday, September 7.

Kickoff at Faurot Field that day will be at 6 p.m.

MISSOURI TIGERS 2024 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
August 29 vs. Murray State -- 7 pm
September 7 vs. Buffalo -- 6 pm
September 14 vs. Boston College -- 11:45 am
September 21 vs. Vanderbilt -- TBA
October 5 at #20 Texas A&M -- 11 am
October 12 at UMass -- TBA
October 19 vs. Auburn -- TBA
October 26 at #5 Alabama -- TBA
November 9 vs. #16 Oklahoma -- TBA
November 23 at Mississippi State -- TBA
November 30 vs. Arkansas -- TBA