Texas to play Missouri in the Texas Bowl

Just like in 2014, the Texas Longhorns are headed to NRG Stadium in Houston to play in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl against the Missouri Tigers. The game will kick off at 8:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, December 27.

The ‘Horns will enter the game with a 6-6 record and without at least two key starters, as junior left tackle Connor Williams and junior safety DeShon Elliott both declared for the 2018 NFL Draft last week. At the least, linebacker Malik Jefferson is expected to join his former teammates in leaving early and skipping the bowl game.

In head coach Tom Herman’s first season, Texas is hoping to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2013, Mack Brown’s final campaign. The last bowl appearance came in the Texas Bowl in 2014, when Arkansas defeated Texas 31-7.

Former Big 12 member Missouri returns to the state of Texas for the first time since playing in the 2013 Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma State. Sitting at 7-5 with a six-game winning streak, the Tigers are also appearing in the program’s first bowl game since 2014.

Standout junior quarterback Drew Lock leads a high-powered offense that ranks No. 10 nationally in S&P+ and averages 39.3 points per game — it’s a balanced attack that would fit well in the Big 12. The defense, however, isn’t quite as strong, as it ranks No. 93 nationally in S&P+ and struggles giving up big plays.

Texas has a 17-6 all-time record against Missouri. The two former conference foes haven’t faced each other since a 17-5 victory by the Tigers in Columbia in 2011.

Tickets are available for purchase through the Texas Bowl here.