Missouri Tigers muster more punts than points in Gary Pinkel's last game, fall 28-3 to Arkansas

A few hours before kickoff we heard that AD Mack Rhoades was rumored to be interviewing the current head coach of Toledo, Matt Campbell. Former Mizzou safeties coach and current Washington State defensive coordinator Alex Grinch (Gary Pinkel's nephew) who has been nominated for the Frank Broyles Award, played with Matt Campbell in college.

Shortly before kickoff, Rhoades told Tiger Radio Network he'll sit down with the team tomorrow to discuss the possibility of playing a bowl game as a 5-7 team, saying he wanted to gauge the team's interest.

Arkansas scores just before the end of the first quarter after both teams traded nearly muffed punts to start the game. A series of runs up the middle primed the play action to Hunter Henry along the left sideline which set up Alex Collins near the goal line for the four yard touchdown run.

Alex Collins scored his second touchdown with eight minutes left in the second quarter and Missouri's defense begins to look too gashed to keep up for two more quarters. Arkansas has 19 rushing attempts at 4.5 yards per rush and Brandon Allen is keeping the linebackers honest by successfully hitting tight end Hunter Henry on play action roll-outs.

On the next drive, Wes Leftwich makes a remarkably good catch on a 35 yard bomb from Drew Lock but Mizzou would be unable to capitalize on this big play and settle for a 35 yard field goal from Andrew Baggett who is now eight points away from the all-time career scoring record at Mizzou.

Just like that, Arkansas rumbles down the field and Alex Collins breaks off a 25 yard touchdown run to put the Hogs up 21-3 right before half time.

Half-time Box Score

Coming out of the locker room Gary Pinkel told the CBS reporter,

"We've had a lot of distractions... I was very worried about the focus of our football team."

With about two minutes left in the the third quarter, freshman punter Corey Fatony sets Mizzou's new single-season record for punts with his 80th and oh gawd why am I crying?

Here it is:

Per David Morrison, after not giving up a 100-yard rusher in 11 games, Missouri has allowed one in back-to-back weeks- Jalen Hurd (151) and Alex Collins (127). That's the effect of losing Terry Beckner Jr.

Kentrell Brothers reaches 150 tackles on the season, making him #4 all time at Mizzou.

Donavin Newsom had a good game, reaching double digit tackles and forcing one fumble.

Late in the fourth quarter, Aarion Penton picked off Brandon Allen. Penton showed no quit throughout the game, showing some moxy returning kicks.

Notable

This season has been like being beheaded by a dull guillotine

— Lucas Vincent (@CoachLVincent) November 27, 2015

That is redshirt sophomore running back Trevon Walters endorsing former safety Shaun Rupert's opinion that Josh Henson should be left in Arkansas. It would seem the locker room is not in a great place. He went on to say,

"Man I came here to play football for coach Pinkel and get an education but the way we let him go out is an embarrassment."

Box Score

Box Score Hero

The defense, because as bad as the final score looks, it could have been worse.