In an extremely boring and, quite frankly, discouraging game, Missouri falls to Oklahoma 17-6 and moves to 7-4 on the season, with a departure from the top 25 looming. From questionable 4th down calls, an offense that can barely past midfield, and a special teams unit that is a complete and utter disaster, things look bleak for the black and gold.

Sure, the team is 7-4, putting them two games above.500. However, this is a far cry from earlier times in the season, when fans believed this could be a playoff team. Unfortunately, the reality is clear that this team is far from that. Here are 3 short takeaways from today’s game.

1. This offense is lost, broken, all of the above: I’ll be honest here. When I heard the news that Beau Pribula was coming back this week, I said that it MIGHT be able to cure the offensive woes. I was wrong. Let’s start with coaching. Lots of fans are going to come for Kirby Moore’s head and look, I completely understand. However, Missouri could not throw the ball if their life was on the line. The passing scheme is utterly broken.

We were utterly fooled early in the season, when Missouri torched Central Arkansas and Kansas. Then, Missouri started playing the A teams, not the B teams. Against top opponents, Missouri struggles to generate anything. So, for all of the fans that want to grab pitchforks for Kirby, I get it. However, let’s be honest, what choices does he have when the offense is this inept.

Secondly, it’s a quarterback issue. Let’s address the elephant in the room and make the easy observations. I’m not quite sure Beau Pribula can stretch the field on a consistent basis. He was not good today. The wide receivers don’t get open consistently, and despite the run game being solid, it can only get you so far when that’s your whole entire hand in a deck of cards.

I think that Missouri HAS to reevaluate and restructure this offense after this season. Eli Drinkwitz has stated that the jump from good to great is the hardest step to make. Well, if you want to do that, this is a good first step.

2. Special teams…: Point blank period, this special teams unit is atrocious. It ranks 113th in the country. Absolutely asinine. Again, if you want to take the leap from good to great, little things matter and special teams is a big part of that. When you get to the opposing teams 17-yard line and you’re anxious to kick the field goal, not a good sign. Also what’s even worse, is that the field goal got blocked, which was the major momentum shift in this game.

To add to this, it hurts when you can’t consistently punt the ball over 35 yards. How Missouri wasn’t able to get a punter who can at least get it to 40 yards consistently, I have no idea. The special teams have been masked from having some excellent kickers, but now, things are being exposed.

3. The Missouri defense deserves its flowers: This ties in with point uno, but the defense, despite the offense’s shortcomings, constantly shows up and plays their tails off. They contained John Mateer to the best of their ability, made several key stops, but the offense did not give them an ounce of help.

Missouri has maybe one of the best pairs of defensive ends in the country that I’ve seen, and also has one of the better linebackers in Josiah Trotter as well. Zion Young and Damon Wilson will be gone after this season, and both will likely be day 1 or day 2 picks in the NFL draft. This is a defense that kept Alabama in check, Vanderbilt in check, South Carolina in check, and Oklahoma in check. It’s just truly a shame that the offense can’t give assistance when needed.

To wrap up, it was a tough loss today. The season is coming to a close, and as we creep towards the offseason, several things will have to be addressed.