There will be plenty to talk about in the run-up to Missouri’s Texas Bowl battle with Texas. But here are five things to know up front.

1. This will be the teams’ 20th meeting.

Knowing the history of the two teams’ programs, you would guess that Texas would lead the overall series. You would be correct.

• 1907: Mizzou 5, Texas 4
• 1916: Mizzou 3, Texas 0
• 1931: Texas 31, Mizzou 0
• 1932: Texas 65, Mizzou 0
• 1945: No. 10 Texas 40, Mizzou 27
• 1946: Texas 42, Mizzou 0
• 1979: No. 4 Texas 21, No. 5 Mizzou 0
• 1982: No. 17 Texas 21, Mizzou 0
• 1985: Texas 21, Mizzou 17
• 1986: Texas 27, Mizzou 25
• 1996: No. 8 Texas 40, Mizzou 10
• 1997: Mizzou 37, Texas 29
• 2000: Texas 46, Mizzou 12
• 2001: No. 7 Texas 35, Mizzou 16
• 2004: No. 9 Texas 28, Mizzou 20
• 2005: No. 2 Texas 51, Mizzou 20
• 2008: No. 1 Texas 56, No. 11 Mizzou 31
• 2009: No. 3 Texas 41, Mizzou 7
• 2011: Mizzou 17, No. 21 Texas 5

2. Texas will be missing a couple of stars, and maybe more.

Standout left tackle Connor Williams and safety DeShon Elliott have both announced they’ll skip Texas’ bowl game so they can prepare for the NFL draft.

Considering Mizzou’s strengths at the moment — defensive line and passing game — this could be an issue. Also:

3. Brick Haley knows the personnel pretty well.

Missouri has a few ties with Texas on the team as defensive line coach Brick Haley was on former Longhorns coach Charlie Strong’s staff last year and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott is a transfer from the Longhorns. Elliott is sitting out this year due to NCAA transfer rules. Despite the ties, Odom said having connections to the opponent doesn’t help that much in scouting Texas.

“They’ll know as much about us as we do them,” Odom said.

4. 11 Mizzou players are from Texas:

Seniors J'Mon Moore and Jason Reese, junior Roderick Winters, sophomore Demarkus Acy, freshmen Joshuah Bledsoe, Terry Petry, Hyrin White, and Kobie Whiteside, and redshirting Texas transfer Jordan Elliott, plus walk-ons Zion Scales and Jairan Parker.

So it’s a homecoming of sorts.

Besides the obvious opportunity to gain an additional three weeks of practice while also competing for a bowl championship, this serves as a homecoming for the Tigers. Mizzou gets an opportunity to play in a state (Texas) that’s served as a major pipeline for talent throughout the years.

“I think this was a match made in heaven,” said Sterk.

5. Barry Odom’s first game as Mizzou linebacker was against Texas.

"I knew I was in the mix to maybe play, maybe redshirt (that season)," Odom said at a joint press conference with athletic director Jim Sterk on Sunday. "I've got a lot of memories from that game, obviously, it being your first one." [...]

Odom can spit out small details about the buildup ahead of the 1996 Texas showdown. He called home to tell his parents he made the depth chart. He remembers wide receivers coach Andy Hill rushing out of practice during game week because his wife was giving birth to their daughter. A thunderstorm pushed back the start time of the opening kickoff.

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