Mizzou Football Faces Uphill Battle Against Oklahoma Without Starting Quarterback Brady Cook

No. 24 Missouri football is set to host Oklahoma in Week 11, but the Tigers will be without their starting quarterback, Brady Cook, due to a hand injury. The announcement came on Friday evening, after Cook had been listed as questionable all week.

Graduate student Drew Pyne will step in to start against the Sooners. Pyne’s last outing was against Alabama, where he went 6-of-12 with three interceptions. To overcome this challenge, Mizzou will need to simplify the playbook for Pyne and establish a strong pace of play to avoid falling behind.

Despite the setback, there is some positive news for the Tigers: starting running back Nate Noel is expected to return to the lineup after dealing with injuries for several weeks. Noel’s return is a significant boost to the offense and will help offensive coordinator Kirby Moore in simplifying the game plan for the backup quarterback.

Oklahoma, coming off a 59-14 victory over Maine, is expected to have multiple starting receivers back, giving quarterback Jackson Arnold a nearly full array of weapons. Mizzou will likely focus on quick plays, designed runs, and protecting the ball to move the offense against the Sooners.

The game will be played at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri, marking the Tigers’ penultimate home game of the season.