Drew Lock threw three touchdown passes in less than ideal conditions, special teams came up big and the defense turned in a pick-six as Mizzou won its fifth straight game to become bowl eligible with its sixth win of the season, a 45-17 rout of Vanderbilt on Saturday night. The Tigers pulled off a rare feat for SEC teams. Only one other conference team ever started a season 1-5 and finished with a bowl game. That was Mississippi State back in 1983.
The Tigers are now eligible for one of the eight bowls listed above. Representatives from the Taxslayer Bowl have been in attendance for a couple of previous Tiger games as well as the Liberty Bowl.
“Let’s go bowlin’, baby!” – @Coach_Odom ????#keepitrollinbaby#MIZ #ShowMe ???????? pic.twitter.com/AG32DEHjAe
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) November 19, 2017
Mizzou has won three straight SEC games for the first time under Coach Odom.
Mizzou is bowl eligible for the 32nd time in school history and the first time since 2014.
Mizzou is the first team in the FBS to have a five-game losing streak and five-game winning streak since 1976.
Mizzou just the 14th team in FBS history to start 1-5 and achieve bowl eligibility; of the previous 13, all but one were invited to a bowl game.
Mizzou has scored 45 or more points in five consecutive games, the first time that has ever been accomplished at Mizzou.