Scouting Missouri: Florida Faces Missouri’s Elite Offense, Pass Rush
Florida is coming off a statement win over No. 4 Ole Miss, but the Gators now face another ranked SEC opponent, this time on the road.
No. 8 Florida (4-0, 2-0 SEC) travels to Columbia to face No. 25 Missouri (3-1, 0-1 SEC) on Saturday after putting together its best offensive performance of the season in a 52-28 win over the Rebels. Florida rushed for 302 yards, including 268 from both Jadan Baugh and Duke Clark, while the defense held Ole Miss to 28 points.
Missouri is coming off a 31-24 loss to Mississippi State in its SEC opener. The Tigers fell behind 14-0 before taking the lead in the fourth quarter, but Mississippi State ultimately rallied for the win. Missouri dropped from No. 19 to No. 25 following the loss.
Florida coach Jon Sumrall said Missouri’s offensive line presents one of the biggest challenges the Gators will face.
“It starts up front with them. I think this is the best offensive line we have played,” Sumrall said Monday. “They play with a demeanor that I respect. I just think they play the game the way it’s meant to be played.”
Florida and Missouri have split their last two meetings, with Missouri winning 33-31 in Columbia in 2023 most recently. The Tigers lead the all-time series 7-6 and are 4-2 against Florida at home.
The biggest challenge for Florida’s defense could come from Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons, who has yet to throw an interception this season.
In his first season with Missouri after transferring from Ole Miss, Simmons has completed 36 of 48 passes for 544 yards and seven touchdowns. His 218.3 passing efficiency ranks sixth nationally, while his seven touchdown passes and 11.33 yards per attempt both rank among the top 10 in the country.
Simmons’ longest completion this season has traveled 65 yards, showing Missouri’s ability to create explosive plays through the air.
Florida defensive coordinator Brad White said Simmons’ ability to operate from the pocket makes him particularly difficult to defend.
“Really smooth thrower of the football, easy delivery, can make throws all over the field,” White said Tuesday. “He preferred to be in the pocket and deliver strikes because that’s where he excels.”
Missouri uses a heavy outside-zone scheme, requiring its offensive line to work together to create opportunities in the running game.
White said the speed of the scheme can make it difficult for defenders to maintain their gap responsibilities.
“They do a great job working together,” White said. “And that’s a big piece of being successful in that scheme, run-wise.”
For Florida’s defense, maintaining that discipline will be important against Missouri’s ability to create horizontal seams. White said the Gators need to work together up front and set a firm edge against the Tigers’ outside-zone attack.
“It creates that backup effect, it becomes like traffic,” White said.
While Florida prepares for Missouri’s offense, the Tigers also bring a pass-rush threat that could test the Gators’ protection
Defensive lineman Daeden Hopkins was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after recording 3.5 sacks against Mississippi State. That total ranks second all-time for a single game in Missouri history.
Hopkins also has a 90.8 PFF pass-rushing grade, the highest in the nation among FBS defenders with at least 100 pass-rush snaps.
Missouri is also dealing with several injuries heading into the weekend, with five players listed as out and three more listed as questionable. Edge rushers Langden Kitchen and Darris Smith are among those listed as questionable after suffering lower-body injuries in Missouri’s last two games.
Florida offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said protecting the quarterback against Missouri’s pass rush will require everyone involved in the offense.
“When we talk about protecting the quarterback, we’re not just talking to the offensive line,” Faulkner said Tuesday. “We’re talking to the offensive line, the tight ends, the running backs, we’re talking to the quarterback too.”
Florida will also look to build off an offensive performance against Ole Miss that produced 302 rushing yards. Faulkner said the Gators want to remain capable of attacking defenses in multiple ways.
“We want to be an offense that can beat you in really any fashion,” Faulkner said.
Florida will look to carry momentum from its performance against Ole Miss into its second SEC road game of the season. The Gators will also have to handle the challenge of playing in Columbia. Florida will also have to deal with the atmosphere at Faurot Field, something White said can present its own challenge.
“I think it’s underrated,” White said. “It’s just a hard place to play.”
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