NCAA Football Preview (Ohio St-Missouri)
Posted: Sat September 27, 1997 at 6:45 a.m EDT
Ohio St (3-0) at Missouri (2-1) 12:00 pm EDT
Ohio State, less than impressive in two of its
first three wins, meets Missouri in its final warmup before
starting its Big Ten Conference schedule.
The Buckeyes (3-0) scored a 24-10 win over Wyoming, beat Bowling
Green 44-13 and allowed a big comeback in last week's 28-20
victory over Arizona -- all at home. Ohio state could be
looking ahead to huge conference games against number nine Iowa
the following week and then at number two Penn State.
Missouri clobbered Eastern Michigan 44-24, took a tough 15-7
loss at Kansas and rebounded for a 42-21 victory over Tulsa. The
Tigers get back into their Big 12 Conference slate next week
against Iowa State.
Ohio State is 21-3-1 against the teams in the Big 12, including
an 8-1-1 mark against Missouri, though all of the games have
been in Columbus. They have not met since the Tigers scored a
22-21 victory in 1976, scoring a touchdown and tacking on a
two-point conversion in the final minutes. Missouri is 39-50-1
against the teams in the Big Ten, including that win, which came
when the Buckeyes were ranked second in the nation. It broke
Ohio State's 25-game home winning streak.
Ohio State is expected to have quarterback Stanley Jackson ready
to go, though he left the Arizona game in the third quarter with
a sprained left knee and did not return. Jackson is 14-0 in his
career as a starter, including three wins this season. He is
23-of-34 for 308 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
With 76 yards and two touchdowns, he is also Ohio State's
third-leading rusher.
If Jackson is not ready, Joe Germaine would start. Germaine,
who plays in every game anyway, is 22-of-34 for 316 yards and
one touchdown this season.
On defense, sophomore Andy Katzenmoyer can dominate a game from
his linebacker position. He had 11 tackles and returned an
interception of a shovel pass for a touchdown against Arizona.
In just 15 college games, he has five interceptions.
Missouri is aiming for its first 3-1 start since 1980 and its
fifth straight victory over a non-conference opponent, something
the Tigers have not accomplished since running off six straight
in 1981-82. Missouri has not beaten a team in the top 10 since
1981 and has lost 17 straight games against ranked opponents.
Tigers coach Larry Smith is 4-0 in head-to-head matchups with
OSU's John Cooper, who has suffered half of those losses with
the Buckeyes.
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