COLUMBIA, Mo. — No. 13 Tennessee got thumped on the road by No. 14 Missouri, 36-7, losing on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
The Tigers got the ball first and started driving immediately on the Vols. On the first pay of Missouri's offensive drive, quarterback Brady Cook found running back Cody Schrader for a 38-yard pass and catch. The Tigers were threatening to score, but their drive ended when Vols safety Jaylen McCollough came up with an interception, his third in the last four games.
However, the Vols would go three and out on their ensuing drive and had to punt.
Missouri got the ball back and then went on a very long drive that lasted 10:55. However, the Vols buckled down in the red zone and only allowed a field goal. The Tigers led 3-0.
Tennessee struck back quickly and they took the lead. A six-play drive led to quarterback Joe Milton throwing a 46-yard touchdown pass to Dont'e Thornton. UT led 7-3 early in the second quarter.
Missouri returned the favor in one play less. During a five-play touchdown drive, Cook found Schrade for a 43-yard gain A few plays later, Schrader scored on a seven-yard rushing touchdown to give Missouri a 10-7 lead.
That would remain the score as the Vols got the ball back with 4:11 left in the first half. They drove down the field and got the ball inside the Missouri 25-yard line, however after a completion to running back Jaylen Wright, Wright fumbled the ball and UT came up scoreless on the drive as Missouri recovered the loose ball with 20 seconds left in the half.
The Tigers did not kneel the ball and take it to halftime. Schrader busted out for a 35-yard run to open the drive. Missouri got enough yards to try a 46-yard field goal right before halftime and they made it to extend their lead to 13-7 halftime touchdown.
The Vols got the ball to start the second half but went three and out. Missouri immediately went down the field and scored a touchdown. The drive's second play was a completion of 48 yards from Cook to Marquis Johnson. Five plays later, Cook ran it into the endzone from three yards out. After a failed two-point conversion, Missouri led 19-7.
UT couldn't score on its next drive either. Missouri drove into Tennessee's red zone again. Missouri kicker Harrison Mever knocked in his third field goal of the game for a 22-7 lead.
Tennessee would drive on their next possession. Running back Dylan Sampson had a 23-yard run to get UT down to the Missouri six-yard line, however, the play was called back after a holding penalty. Instead, the Vols weren't able to convert on third down and would be forced to punt
The Vols were still down two touchdowns early in the fourth quarter. They crossed the 50-yard line, only to see the ball get fumbled on an attempted read option play that knocked the ball out of Milton's hands on what was supposed to be a fake handoff.
Missouri put the daggers in the game on a fourth-quarter touchdown. Cook found wide receiver Luther Burden for a 21-yard touchdown reception. Missouri went up 29-7.
On the next drive, Milton threw an interception, which was returned 38 yards for a touchdown. UT fell down 36-7.
Schrader had over 300 total yards against the Vols defense, 200 of those were rushing yards. Tennessee came into the game with the best rush defense in the SEC, allowing an average of 97 yards per game.
7 points for the Vols is the lowest scoring point total under Josh Heupel at Tennessee. The 29 point loss also marks the worst under Heupel.
The Vols fall to 7-3 overall and 3-3 in SEC play on the season. They can no longer claim the SEC East title. UT hosts No. 2 Georgia at Neyland Stadium next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
