Missouri Puts It All Together

After falling apart in a loss to Kansas, Missouri had two weeks to think about it. And it came up with an inventive game plan that helped the Tigers end a 24-game losing streak against No. 10 Nebraska.

Brad Smith tied a school record with four touchdowns and Missouri scored twice on trick plays along with opening up the offense for the first time all season in a 41-24 victory over the error-prone Cornhuskers on Saturday night at Columbia, Mo.

“It’s certainly my biggest win here,” Coach Gary Pinkel said. “What I’m going to suggest is it’s pretty darned big.”

Nebraska, which fell to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference, committed five turnovers in losing to Missouri (5-1, 1-1) for the first time since 1978, and for the first time at Faurot Field since 1973. Among the school’s first sellout crowds in four seasons were several members of the last team to beat the Huskers, including coach Warren Powers.

Fans tore down both goal posts after the game.

“Our fans have just been dying for something like that,” Athletic Director Mike Alden said. “It’s exciting for us to be able to deliver.”

Missouri trailed, 24-14, in the third quarter before outscoring Nebraska, 27-0, in the fourth quarter. Nebraska entered the game with the nation’s top-ranked defense and was coming off its first shutout in three seasons.

Missouri ended a 45-game losing streak against top-10 teams dating to a 14-3 victory over No. 9 Mississippi State on Oct. 3, 1981. The Tigers, who scored on a throwback pass to Smith and a fake field goal, also ended a 20-game losing streak against top-25 teams.

Smith rebounded from a poor outing in a 35-14 loss at Kansas two weeks ago that dropped Missouri from the top 25. He completed 13 of 27 passes for 180 yards and his first two interceptions of year, making up for those errors with 123 yards in 18 carries plus a 47-yard touchdown reception off a lateral to Darius Outlaw.

Oklahoma State 38, No. 22 Kansas State 34 -- Tatum Bell ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns and Darrent Williams returned one of his two interceptions for a score to lead the Cowboys (5-1, 1-1) over the Wildcats (4-3, 0-2) at Stillwater, Okla.

Kansas State, ranked as high as No. 6 a month ago, has watched its season of promise unravel with three straight losses.

After a deflating season-opening loss at Nebraska that cost the Cowboys their top-25 ranking, Oklahoma State (5-1, 1-1) has won five straight and managed to make amends for last season’s embarrassing 44-9 loss at Kansas State.

With the win, Oklahoma State ended a nine-game losing streak to the Wildcats that dated to 1990.

Colorado 50, Kansas 47 -- Brian Calhoun ran 12 yards for a touchdown in overtime to lift the Buffaloes (3-3, 1-1) to a come-from-behind victory over the Jayhawks (4-2, 1-1) at Boulder, Colo.

Calhoun’s run up the middle came after Kansas’ Johnny Beck had kicked a 35-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime.

The Buffaloes rallied from deficits of 7-0, 35-24, 38-30 and 44-38 in a wide-open game that featured a combined 1,184 yards of offense, including 598 by Colorado.

Texas Tech 52, Iowa State 21 -- B.J. Symons completed 45 of 65 passes for 487 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two more to lead the Red Raiders (5-1, 2-0) over the Cyclones (2-4, 0-2) at Lubbock, Texas.

Symons’ performance broke an NCAA record for total offense in a four-game span set by Houston’s David Klingler (2,276 yards) in 1990. Symons finished with 529 total yards Saturday to set the record at 2,328.

Texas A&M; 73, Baylor 10 -- Reggie McNeal threw three touchdown passes, including a 91-yarder to Jamaar Taylor, and ran for two more scores as the Aggies (3-3, 1-1) ended a three-game losing streak in defeating the Bears (3-3, 1-1) at College Station, Texas.