COLUMBIA, S.C. – Three long first-half drives, another stout performance by the defense, and two second-half field goals by Harrison Mevis sent the Missouri Tigers (4-4, 2-3) to a 23-10 victory over the 25th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks (5-3, 2-3).
It was Missouri’s fourth straight win over South Carolina, meaning the Mayor’s Cup stays in Missouri; the Tigers’ first win over a ranked opponent since 2020, and snapped the Gamecocks’ four-game winning streak.
In the first half, quarterback Brady Cook directed drives of 96, 84 and 72 yards to get the Tigers out to a 17-0 lead. He scored the first touchdown on a three-yard run. On the second drive, he completed a 57-yard pass to Dominic Lovett that led to a one-yard TD plunge by Cody Schrader, and Lovett opened the third drive with a 21-yard catch-and-run and Cook gained 23 yards on a third down that led to a 20-yard field goal by Mevis.
South Carolina got on the board 47 seconds before halftime on a seven-yard touchdown scramble by QB Spencer Rattler.
Early in the second half, Jaylon Carlies forced a Rattler fumble at the USC 21-yard line that Daylan Carnell returned 10 yards, but after the Mizzou drive stalled at the five, Mevis hooked a 20-yard field goal attempt.
The Gamecocks responded with a 59-yard drive that led to a 39-yard FG by Mitch Jeter that closed the score to 17-10.
But Missouri came right back. A 34-yard pass down the right sideline to Lovett put Mevis in position for a 50-yard field goal extending his MU record to 10 FGs of 50 yards or more. Lovett had career highs with 10 receptions for 148 yards.
The Tigers defense then stopped South Carolina for losses on three straight plays, the third a 9-yard sack by Isaiah McGuire, and after a punt, Cook hit Schrader for a 29-yard gain that set up another Mevis field goal, this one from 32 yards.
McGuire got another sack to stop the Gamecocks’ next possession, and then Missouri ran clock with a drive on which Schrader carried 10 straight times for 39 yards. Schrader finished the game with 81 yards on 22 carries.
Dreyden Norwood snuffed South Carolina’s last gasp with a pass interception of Rattler near midfield.
Missouri outgained South Carolina 367 yards to 203, with just 99 of the Gamecocks’ yards coming in the second half. MU outrushed USC, 143-32.
The Mizzou defense recorded 11 tackles for loss, including four QB sacks, broke up four passes and forced two turnovers.
Cook completed 17-of-24 passes for 224 yards and rushed 11 times for 53 yards.
UP NEXT
The Tigers return home next week for a SEC East matchup with the Kentucky Wildcats on Nov. 5. Game time at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field will be 11 a.m. and the game will be televised on the SEC Network.
