The last time Missouri won a college football game at Oklahoma, it was 1966.
Lyndon B. Johnson was in the White House. The U.S. presence in Vietnam reached 300,000 personnel by year’s end. Back home, a dozen eggs cost 60 cents and gas was priced at 32 cents per gallon.
Psychedelia was big in the culture. Walt Disney Died. Mike Tyson was born. The Oscar for best picture went to “The Sound of Music.” Billboard’s No. 1 hit song of the year was California Dreamin’ by the Mamas & the Papas.
It was the first season of a brand new show called “Star Trek.” Brian Wilson wrote the classic “Pet Sounds” album for the Beach Boys. The Beatles played a concert at Busch Stadium in August of that year.
In 1966, the NFL played a historically prominent season that ended with the first Super Bowl, won by Vince Lombardi’s Packers. The Baltimore Orioles, led by Triple Crown winner Frank Robinson, shocked the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the 1966 World Series.
The all-time great St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson went 21-12 with a 2.44 ERA.
The St. Louis football Cardinals had an 8-5-1 season behind hard-hitting All-Pro safety Larry Wilson, quarterback Charley Johnson, Pro Bowl tight end Jackie Smith and Pro Bowl running back Johnny Roland.
The NBA St. Louis Hawks had a surprising 56-26 record and were led by the smooth guard Lenny Wilkens, who averaged 17.4 points and was honored as a league all-star for the fourth time. And shout-out to Zelmo Beatty.
The future legend, Norm Stewart, was a few months away from being hired as Mizzou’s basketball coach. The St. Louis Blues were less than a year away from playing their first game as an NHL expansion team.
This little visit to memory land includes the Nov. 12, 1966, game between Mizzou and Oklahoma in Norman.
The Tigers, scoring all 10 points in the third quarter, emerged with an intensely fought 10-7 victory. The winning moment came on an unlikely 52-yard field goal by Missouri’s leg, Bill Bates.
According to legend, coach Dan Devine's 9-year-old daughter got a laugh out of her dad when she said, “Daddy, Mommy didn't think Bill Bates could kick a field goal 52 yards.”
Future Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Roger Wehrli was on that ‘66 Mizzou team. Teammates included the massive defensive lineman Russ Washington, who went on to star at offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers over a 15-year NFL career that included five Pro Bowl and two All-Pro selections.
Running back Charlie Brown rushed for 93 hard yards in the Tigers triumph. Defensive back Jim Whitaker helped save the day by grabbing two of the three interceptions made by the Mizzou defense.
Before upsetting Oklahoma, Missouri had been outscored 61-0 in its previous seven quarters. But when the Mizzou traveling squad left Norman, the slump was over and the team’s record improved to 5–3-1 on the season.
Now for the bad news …
After that rare success on Oklahoma soil, visiting Missouri proceeded to lose 18 straight games in Norman. Average score of those matchups: Oklahoma 37, Mizzou 13.
Talk about some treacherous road trips. Mizzou’s all-time record in road games at Oklahoma is 7-33-5. The most lopsided loss included OU beatdowns by scores of 77-0, 49-7, 52-14, 37-0 (twice), 51-17, and 41-14. The Tigers’ most recent trip to Norman was made in 2011, and then the Big 12 rivals split up when Missouri joined the SEC in 2012. Now they’re back in the same conference again.
Here’s an interesting and perhaps relevant note about Mizzou’s 10-7 win at Oklahoma in the brawl played 59 years ago:
– In the tussle, Mizzou had zero passing yards.
– But the Tigers did go around and through the Oklahoma defense for 212 punishing yards rushing.
– Oklahoma quarterback Bob Warmack, who scored the home team’s touchdown, did a lot to win that game, passing for 220 yards and rushing for 60. But five turnovers ruined Oklahoma: three interceptions and two lost fumbles.
Here’s what I’m thinking…
For No. 22 Mizzou to defeat the No. 8 Sooners – in the first clash between the teams since the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series – the Tigers may have to turn that old clock back to 1966.
MIZ may have to win in a way that’s similar to the football battle that played out in 1966.
Mizzou must rush the ball with speed and force. Their rushing attack has to be just that – a relentless attack on an Oklahoma that’s as rugged and resistant as any in the nation.
Mizzou’s defense must rise up and create frequent and disruptive acts of chaos. This dynamic Tigers unit has to gobble up some Oklahoma turnovers, take the ball away, and win the game.
Just like the ‘66 Tigers did it.
It would help if Mizzou can move the ball through the air with Beau Pribula returning to the starting job after a brutal ankle injury. But Pribula hasn’t displayed much downfield arm strength or accuracy.
Beau’s mobility is a plus (if he’s 100% physically) but Oklahoma coach Brent Venables will have his defense prepared for Pribula’s scampers. However, if Venables is going all-in to cut off and clog Mizzou’s running lanes, that should create some airspace for Pribula. And Missouri’s circus of receivers are really terrific … if only the QB can get them the ball.
If Mizzou can chew some yards on the ground and pop a couple of big-play runs, this would give the Tigers a chance to steal this one. If the 2025 MU defense can a nice amount of tackles, losses, pressures, sacks, and multiple takeaways, the Missouri will have a chance to go home with an 8-3 record and a shot at winning 10 games for the third consecutive year. To do that, Mizzou must win in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and in the bowl game to be named later.
As I write this, Missouri is a 6 and ½ point underdog. And while I do believe Oklahoma will win this renewal of a rivalry, it is far from ludicrous to suggest Mizzou is a palooka.
This 2025 MIZ defense seems capable of getting to an Oklahoma offense led by quarterback John Mateer.
I say this after looking at the 68-team power conference rankings of both teams when the Missouri defense is matched against OU’s offense. These rankings were culled from the grades issued by Pro Football Focus. And
OU’s overall offense: ranked 32nd.
MU’s overall defense: ranked 4th.
OU’s running game: 42nd.
MU’s run defense: 4th.
OU’s passing game: 51st.
MU’s pass coverage: 16th.
OU’s pass blocking: 18th.
MU’s pass-rush pressure: 5th.
Mateer hasn’t been the same as a passer since suffering a thumb injury early in the season.
In his first two games of the season against power-conference opponents (Michigan and Auburn), Mateer had a completion rate of 65 percent, a passer efficiency rating of 91.2, averaged 269 yards passing per game, and had an average throw depth of 8.6 yards. He also had two touchdown passes and one interception.
Since the injury, in his last five games against power conference teams – Texas, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Alabama – the QB’s stats have declined. His passer efficiency rating is 70.5. His completion percentage is down by 6%, his yards passing per game is only 174 yards, his average throw depth has dropped by more than two yards, and he’s thrown two touchdowns with four INTs.
Mateer is a dangerous runner, but his passing touch hasn’t been the same. Can Mizzou’s defense take advantage of that? Well, there’s a chance.
But can Mizzou overcome its wretched history in Norman? Can Mizzou shake loose from its 2-10 record vs. ranked SEC opponents over the last three seasons? That includes consecutive straight losses against ranked SEC foes. Are the Missouri players distracted by the uncertainty of their head coach’s future? Eli Drinkwitz is prominent in the speculation over the head-coach openings at LSU, Florida and Penn State.
Yes, 1966 was a very long time ago. So, depending on Saturday’s outcome, we can describe the mood by going with a 1966 hit song title.
Mizzou wins? Land of 1000 Dances Wilson Pickett.
Mizzou loses? 19th Nervous Breakdown, Rolling Stones.
Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful weekend.
–Bernie
Bernie was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023. During a St. Louis sports-media career that goes back to 1985, he’s won multiple national awards for column writing and sports-talk hosting – and was the lead sports columnist at the Post-Dispatch from 1989 through 2015.
Before that Bernie spent a year at the Dallas Morning News, covering the Dallas Cowboys during Tom Landry’s final season (1988) plus the sale of the team to Jerry Jones and the hiring of Jimmy Johnson as coach.
Bernie covered every Cardinals’ postseason game from 1996 through 2014 and was there to chronicle teams that won four NL pennants and two World Series. He provided extensive coverage on the “Greatest Show” St. Louis Rams and has written extensively on the St. Louis Blues and Mizzou football and basketball.
Bernie was/is a longtime voter for the Baseball Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Heisman Trophy and the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame.
You can access his columns, videos and the podcast version of the videos here on STLSportsCentral, catch him regularly on KMOX (AM or FM) as part of the Gashouse Gang, Sports Rush Hour, Sports Open Line or Sports On a Sunday Morning shows.
And you can catch weekly “reunion” segments here at STL Sports Central featuring Bernie and his longtime friend Randy Karraker.