No. 15 Alabama easily cruised past No. 21 Missouri, 34-0.
The Crimson Tide put the game away in the third quarter when Jalen Milroe bounced to his right and scored a nine-yard TD for a 20-0 lead.
To be frank, the game was probably over at halftime as Missouri’s offense struggled once again without QB Brady Cook. The senior started the game despite suffering a high ankle sprain a week ago against Auburn, but he injured his right throwing hand during the first half when he twice hit that hand on a player’s helmet on a follow-through.
Like he was against Auburn, Cook was replaced by backup QB Drew Pyne. And Pyne struggled once again. He threw an interception in the second quarter on his first pass of the game when he simply didn’t see Alabama’s Malachi Moore and then threw another pick after Milroe’s TD when safety Bray Hubbard read his eyes and made an easy interception.
The win was a vital one for Alabama’s hopes to get back to the SEC title game. A third conference loss would have put Alabama behind 10 other teams in the conference standings.
Milroe finished the game 16-of-26 passing for 215 yards and had 11 carries for 50 yards and a TD. The Crimson Tide punished Missouri on the ground and rushed for four scores.
Missouri’s very, very slim CFP chances
Cook missed most of the first three quarters of the Auburn game before coming back to lead the Tigers to a 21-17 win with two TD passes. In his absence, Pyne was just 10-of-21 passing for 78 yards.
Saturday, Pyne was even worse. He threw three interceptions and relegated Missouri to keeping the ball on the ground in the fourth quarter.
Missouri, which also played without leading rusher Nate Noel, has a bye in Week 10 before a schedule that doesn’t include any ranked teams. There’s a legitimate path to a 10-2 season, especially if Cook’s hand injury isn’t serious and he is healthy enough to play.
If he’s not, Missouri isn’t going 10-2. And even if the Tigers do win out, do they have enough of a resume to make the expanded playoff? The offense wasn’t exactly moving the ball well when Cook was on the field on Saturday. And the Tigers’ other loss was a blowout in College Station to No. 13 Texas A&M earlier in the month.
Without a signature win and two blowout losses, it’s hard to see the playoff committee giving Missouri significant consideration even if the Tigers go undefeated in October.