Jamarion Miller scored two rushing touchdowns, and No. 15 Alabama’s defense recorded three interceptions in a 34-0 win against No. 21 Missouri on Saturday. Missouri played most of the game without their starting quarterback, Brady Cook.
The Crimson Tide (6-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) bounced back after their second loss in three weeks, keeping their playoff hopes alive. They had already lost a few games before November for the first time since 2007, but secured this victory after Cook was injured in the first half.
At the time of the injury, Alabama was leading 6-0. Alabama was coming off a loss to Tennessee and had a narrow win over South Carolina, followed by another loss at Vanderbilt.
“Knowing what we have going on this week, we really understand we’ve just gotta play ‘Bama mentality football,” linebacker Jihaad Campbell said. “That was just the main goal.”
Jalen Milroe completed 16 of 26 passes for 215 yards for Alabama. He also ran for 50 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown after reversing direction and a 32-yard run that set up another score.
Miller scored on runs of 3 and 11 yards, while Justice Haynes added a 35-yard touchdown run.
Missouri’s backup quarterback, Drew Pyne, completed 6 of 12 passes for 42 yards but threw three interceptions. Cook had only 30 passing yards before he was hurt.
“They took an X-ray and didn’t feel like they were comfortable with him continuing,” Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz said.
Alabama achieved its second shutout of the season and its first against an SEC team since a 41-0 win over Mississippi State in 2020, thanks to a strong goal-line stand and forced turnovers.
“They’re hunting it. They’re anticipating it a little bit,” Tide coach Kalen DeBoer said. “A little bit more of an attacking mindset, not so much on their heels. Wanted them to really get that shutout there.”
Drew Pyne’s first pass was intercepted by Malachi Moore, who returned it 31 yards. This led to the only touchdown of the first half, a 3-yard run by Miller, giving Alabama a 13-0 lead.
“Offensively, just with Brady’s injury, we just couldn’t ever get in rhythm,” Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz said. “And obviously the turnovers really put us behind the eight ball, and just put the defense in too many bad spots today.”
The two teams combined for 0 for 12 on third-down conversions in the first half. However, Alabama began to gain more yards, outpacing Missouri 486-239, with 271 of those yards on the ground.
Haynes ran for 79 yards and Miller added 48. Richard Young contributed a 62-yard run during Alabama’s final drive.
The running backs helped relieve some pressure off Milroe, who had only 57 rushing yards and five interceptions over the last three games.
“Every quarterback needs a good run game, so the whole weight of everything isn’t on one guy’s shoulders,” DeBoer said.
This included Pyne, who had most of the first-team practice repetitions leading up to the game.
“He’s trying to win the game,” Drinkwitz said. “He’s trying to put us in a position to get back into the game. And I understand that, but we just can’t put the ball into jeopardy in those situations. It’s on me. I’ve got to do a better job coaching us up in those situations and not put it on him.”
