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Missouri topped Arkansas 29-27 to regain control of the Battle Line Trophy after it lost to the Razorbacks at the end of last year's regular season. It was a battle of second-half field goals; Missouri's Harrison Mevis hit a 29-yarder midway through the third quarter to make it 29-21. The Tigers defense kept the Razorbacks out of the end zone from that point on to secure their sixth win of the season and earn a bowl bid for the third straight season under coach Eli Drinkwitz.
Tigers quarterback Brady Cook did it all. The junior had 242 yards passing and one touchdown, plus he rushed for 135 more and added another score on the ground. His 23-yard touchdown pass to Luther Burden III with 10:09 to play in the third quarter gave them a 26-21 lead and turned out to be the game-winning score. Burden was the only receiver who found the end zone, but Dominic Lovett was Cook's most reliable target of the afternoon with six catches for 155 yards.
Arkansas had plenty of chances. Quarterback KJ Jefferson had three touchdowns -- two passing, one rushing -- including an 8-yarder to running back Raheim Sanders that gave the Hogs a short-lived lead early in the third quarter. Jefferson and Sanders had their work cut out for them all day, though. Missouri notched 11 tackles for loss totaling 70 yards. They sacked Jefferson six times on the afternoon despite Jefferson being a load at 6-foot-3, 242 pounds. Jefferson finished the day 20 of 27 for 205 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, 38 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown in the first quarter.
Missouri and Arkansas both await their bowl fate after posting six-win seasons in 2022.
