Mizzou seeks first win over Alabama in 50 years, playoff hopes hang in balance

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - A season-defining matchup looms ahead for the Missouri Tigers against the college football juggernaut Alabama Crimson Tide.

Both teams are fighting for a much-desired victory as their college football playoff hopes hang in the balance. Mizzou and Alabama were both AP-ranked Top 10 teams earlier in the season. Alabama (5-2) enters the matchup ranked 15th, while Mizzou enters the matchup ranked 21st, according to Week 9 AP rankings.

The Top 12 football teams, as ranked by the College Football Playoff selection committee, will qualify for the first year of expanded playoffs. A loss for Mizzou or Alabama could be a serious setback to their playoff aspirations.

Also on the line for Mizzou is a chance to snap a lengthy losing streak against Alabama. Mizzou has dropped each of its last five head-to-head matchups and has not defeated the Crimson Tide since 1975, a drought of nearly half a century. The Tigers are only 2-5 in seven all-time matchups with the Crimson Tide.

It won't be easy to break that lengthy losing streak either. Mizzou lost its only matchup at Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2018. Alabama has only lost on home grounds three times in the last decade. The Crimson Tide have a bit of a new look in their first year since decorated head coach Nick Saban departed, though the environment remains one of the best home-field advantages in college football.

The matchup will also be just Mizzou's second road matchup of the season. Their only other such matchup of that kind to this point was a forgettable one, a 41-10 blowout loss to the Texas A&M Aggies.

Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz knows an upset will require all hands on deck.

"We have a lot of confidence in our players' grit and toughness," Drinkwitz told media members earlier this week. "This is going to be a new challenge we weren't able to measure up to last time with the size of the stadium and going on the road against a ranked opponent. We're going to have to challenge ourselves to meet this challenges."

One big question heading into the game: Will starting quarterback Brady Cook be ready to play? Cook was hobbled by an ankle injury last week and returned late to rally Mizzou to a 21-17 win over the Auburn Tigers. Cook worked out with the team this week, but heads into the weekend with a "questionable" designation on whether he could play. An announcement may not come until close to game time on Saturday.

Mizzou and Alabama kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday afternoon. ESPN will carry the game broadcast.