How does Missouri respond to a humbling loss to LSU?

Here are today's Mizzou Links.

By Bill Connelly@SBN_BillC Oct 3, 2016, 5:03am CDT

The game felt familiar to Missouri’s 34-0 loss to Georgia in 2014. On that day, Georgia played without its star running back, Todd Gurley, who was suspended. His backup, Nick Chubb, rushed for 143 yards, and Missouri mustered 147 yards of offense.

After the game, Odom reminded his team of that loss and how it responded.

"That was a big loss for us" in 2014, "and we came back and we put it to every other team and won the East," Witter said, "so we can’t let this one SEC game determine the rest of our season."

-- The Trib: Missouri delivers 'embarrassing' performance in blowout loss to LSU

I guess if you're looking for a positive from Mizzou's blowout loss on Saturday, it's that the Tigers have pretty definitive proof that a blowout loss does not define a season. Often, though, your reaction to it does.

This is a pretty good time for a bye week. Mizzou gets a chance to rest up a bit, figure out what (if any) tweaks to make to their scheme and base game plans, and challenge the hell out of the players while the bitter taste of this trip is still fresh in everyone's mouth.

The new S&P+ rankings are up, by the way, and they're almost hilariously balanced. Remember last year, when it was so frustrating watching a team that was so good on one side of the ball and so bad on the other? Mizzou currently ranks 50th on offense, 56th on defense, and 60th in special teams. Just as we all predicted.

(56th on defense! That was as unexpected as 50th on offense.)

(Apologies in advance for the lack of a "No changes to the depth chart" post this afternoon.)

Dispatches from Death Valley

MUtigers.com: @MizzouFootball Falls in First Trip to LSU, 42-7
Post-Dispatch: LSU's Tigers are top cats in blowout of Mizzou
KC Star: Disappointment at Death Valley: LSU routs Mizzou 42-7
The Missourian: LSU's Derrius Guice shines against Missouri defense in 42-7 win
PowerMizzou: Notes and Quotes: LSU

Progress isn't linear

I guess prepare for a few more ups and downs from the Mizzou offense this year.

The Trib (Blake Toppmeyer): MU-LSU rewind: Game balls, grades and key plays
KC Star: Growth of Missouri offense takes a step back against LSU
KC Star: Game report: LSU 42, Missouri 7
The Missourian: Drew Lock and Missouri offense struggle in Death Valley beatdown

Bad timing for effort-related punishment

KC Star: MU notes: Defensive backs Aarion Penton, Cam Hilton don’t start against LSU

As Missouri’s defense took the field Saturday night in Death Valley, two familiar names stood on the sidelines: senior cornerback Aarion Penton and sophomore safety Cam Hilton.

The two members of the Missouri secondary who started in last week’s game against Delaware State were benched by Missouri coach Barry Odom.

Why?

"I wanted to get (the other guys) in there because I didn’t like the way those two prepared the last 24 hours of the week," Odom said.

But hey, at least this happened...

Moore & White seemed to make up after their first-half jawing led to penalties pic.twitter.com/UX72C8WU4w
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) October 3, 2016