Skip to main content

Auburn football series history: Missouri

by: Caleb Jones10/17/25CalebJ_Rivals
COLUMBIA, MO - 2024.10.19 - Auburn vs. (#19) Missouri
COLUMBIA, MO - October 19, 2024 - Auburn Linebacker Eugene Asante (#9) during the game between the Auburn Tigers and the (#19) Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, MO. Photo by Austin Perryman

Auburn seeks its first SEC win of the season Saturday, when No. 16 Missouri comes to town.

It’s the sixth all-time meeting between the two schools and Auburn leads the series 3-2 overall. The history, while short, has some rather memorable moments — especially for Auburn.

RELATED: Three big storylines: Stopping Hardy, season survival and Freeze’s future…again

First meeting

Before becoming conference foes, Auburn and Missouri met just one prior time — the 1973 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

Auburn finished the day with 233 yards of total offense and fumbled five times, paving the way for Missouri to win 34-17.

2013 SEC Championship

It took nearly four decades before Auburn played Missouri again following the 1973 Sun Bowl. And despite having never faced each other in an SEC game, the two programs met in the 2013 SEC Championship.

Led by quarterback Nick Marshall and running back Tre Mason, Auburn captured its 16th conference championship with a 59-42 victory. The win propelled Auburn into the BCS National Championship, its second appearance in four seasons.

Auburn ran all over Missouri in the game. The Tigers tallied 677 yards of total offense, with 545 yards rushing. Mason had 46 carries for 304 yards rushing and four touchdowns, while Marshall had 101 yards rushing on 16 carries.

Auburn crushes in Columbia

In the first-ever on-campus meeting between the two schools in 2017, Auburn crushed Missouri in Columbia 51-14.

Jarrett Stidham went head-to-head with Drew Lock, but it was Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson who stole the show. Despite finishing the day with less than 50 yards rushing, Johnson scored five rushing touchdowns — one short of Carnell Williams’ school record.

It was a bounce-back performance for Auburn, which had turned the ball over five times in the week prior against Mercer. Auburn did not turn the ball over in the 51-14 win and made another appearance in the SEC Championship Game later that season.

Missouri fumbles the win in Jordan Hare

Missouri made its way to Jordan Hare Stadium for the first time in 2022, where the visiting Tigers quite literally fumbled the win in overtime.

Auburn led 14-0 after one quarter, but Missouri answered with 14 points in the second quarter. Neither team scored for the remainder of regulation, although Missouri had a chance to walk it off. Missouri kicker Harrison Mevis missed a 26-yard field goal as time expired and the game went to overtime.

Anders Carlson gave Auburn the lead on the first possession with his 39-yard field goal, putting the pressure on Missouri. On second down, Missouri running back Nathaniel Peat took the handoff and a gap to the end zone opened up.

As Peat closed in on the goal line, Auburn defenders forced him outside, and as Peat went to stretch the ball over the goal line, he fumbled. Cayden Bridges recovered for Auburn. Instead of a game-winning touchdown for Missouri, it was a game-winning touchback for the home team.

Last time out

Saturday looks similar to last season’s matchup. Auburn is looking for its first SEC win of the season, facing a one-loss ranked Missouri team.

Last year, Auburn traveled to Columbia and led 17-6 entering the fourth quarter over No. 19 Missouri. Auburn could not hang on, as Missouri outscored Auburn 15-3 in the final 15 minutes of the game to win 21-17.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game against Missouri is set for 6:45 p.m. CST on SEC Network.