Give the Missouri Tiger football team another one up on the Kansas Jayhawks. the University of Missouri Athletic Department was more than happy to send along this information. Hey, any ammo Mizzou fans can use on KU, the better.
Based on the strength of its 12-2 season, the 2007 Missouri Football team was named national champions according to the Anderson & Hester College Football Computer Rankings. The poll, which is one of six computer rankings to officially be used by the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings, made its updates following bowl season, and when the smoke cleared, Mizzou stood atop the rankings, .005 points ahead of conference rival Kansas.
The deciding factor between the Tigers and Jayhawks likely came down to strength of schedule, as MU’s schedule was rated as the nation’s 25 th -toughest by Anderson & Hester, while KU’s rated 61 st . Mizzou’s schedule strength was highest among the top eight teams in the rankings, as well.
Mizzou finished ranked fourth in the final Associated Press top-25, marking the highest-ever finish for MU in the final AP poll. The Tigers were sixth in the final BCS poll, which were not updated after bowl season.
Head Coach Gary Pinkel’s team will begin winter conditioning next week, as school starts back up on Jan. 22 nd . Spring practice begins March 11 th , and will conclude with the annual Black & Gold Spring Game on April 19 th .
Mizzou returns 16 players (including 10 on defense) who started in the Tigers’ 38-7 dismantling of 25 th -ranked Arkansas on Jan. 1 st in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. Many early top-25 polls for the 2008 season have the Tigers ranked among the top-five for next year.
