Missouri football is all set to make its mark in the Music City Bowl. The Tigers, after a successful regular season, will face off against Iowa in this highly anticipated game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CDT on Monday, Dec. 30, and will be aired on ESPN.

Honor and Excitement

Missouri football coach expressed his gratitude and excitement about the team's selection to participate in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl. "It's an honor to be here. We're looking forward to playing at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. It's a great market for our alumni and fanbase, and we know we'll have an excited crowd. Our team has worked hard to achieve this goal, and we're ready to take on Iowa," he said.

History and Resilience

Missouri has never played in the Music City Bowl before, but this year they are finally getting their chance. Four years ago, the game was canceled due to the pandemic. Now, the Tigers are ready to make up for lost time. In head coach Eli Drinkwitz's five seasons at the helm, Mizzou has been bowl eligible every year. They have faced tough opponents and learned from their losses. In 2021, they lost to Army in the Armed Forces Bowl, and in 2022, they fell to Wake Forest in the Gasparilla Bowl. But last season, Drinkwitz led the team to a big win over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. This year, they are aiming for another victory.

Regular Season Highlights

The 2024 regular season was a rollercoaster for the Tigers. They went 9-3, with losses at Texas A&M, Alabama, and South Carolina. But they also had some memorable wins, including a 28-21 victory against Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 30. Mizzou became bowl eligible early this season with a win over Auburn on Oct. 19. The team showed great resilience and determination throughout the season.

Key Players' Decisions

The Tigers will play their bowl game without star wide receiver Luther Burden III and dominant right tackle Armand Membou. Both players have declared for the 2025 NFL Draft and will opt out of the bowl game. This is a significant loss for the team, but the remaining players are determined to give it their all. They know that this is a great opportunity to represent Missouri and make their mark in the Music City.