Tennessee Volunteers

Can Mizzou use newfound momentum and make a bowl game?

Published Nov. 16, 2015 6:09 p.m. ET

foxsports

With Tennessee and Arkansas remaining on their schedule, the Tigers need to find a win in order to come bowl eligible for the eleventh time in the past thirteen years under head coach Gary Pinkel.

Pinkel's recent resignation coincides with a very tough season for those in Columbia. Starting signal-caller Maty Mauk was virtually unavailable for two-thirds of the season, star running back Russell Hansbrough battled a balky ankle, and racial incidents on campus ultimately forced the resignation of president Tim Wolfe.

With all of the emotion surrounding the program and university as a whole, the victory over BYU this past weekend could go a long way in boosting the spirits of those involved with the team.

Mizzou out-gained BYU 434 to 290 in total yardage. There was a considerable impetus on running the ball and controlling the clock -- as evidenced by a nearly twenty-minute advantage by the Tigers in terms of possession. The stable of backs collectively ran for 190 yards on 55 carries, and freshman quarterback Drew Lock finished a respectable 19-of-28 for 244 yards and a touchdown.

With this being Pinkel's last season, there's no question Missouri wants to send him off with a bowl appearance. The emotional celebration on the field after the victory this past weekend demonstrated how much he truly means to this program.