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Missouri gets struggling Colorado in Big 12 opener

Sep 26, 2006 - 7:56 PM Colorado (0-4) at No. 25 Missouri (4-0), 12:30 pm EDT

COLUMBIA, Missouri (Ticker) - Chase Daniel has people forgetting Brad Smith a lot sooner than expected.

A sophomore in his first season as Missouri's starting quarterback, Daniel and the 25th-ranked Tigers look to continue a hot start Saturday when they host Colorado in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.

The Tigers (4-0, 0-0 Big 12 North) are off to a 4-0 start for just the fifth time since 1925. They are coming off a 31-6 victory over Ohio and will be playing for their first 5-0 start since 1981.

Now a New York Jet, Smith left Columbia as one of the most prolific quarterbacks in college football history as he held 69 different Missouri, Big 12 and NCAA game, season and career records. He holds the Division I-A career rushing record for quarterbacks (4,289 yards) and became the first Division I-A signal-caller to throw for 8,000 yards and rush for 4,000 in a career.

With numbers like that, you would figure that Smith would be tough to replace, but so far Daniel is filling in just fine. He ranks ninth in the country in total offense (287.75 yards per game) and has thrown nine TD passes this season.

Missouri is not just doing it on offense, either. The Tigers have the top-ranked defense in the country, yielding only 175.25 yards per game.

While Missouri is flying high, Colorado seems to be finding a new low each week.

In their first season under coach Dan Hawkins, the Buffaloes are off to an 0-4 start - including dropping their season opener at home to Division I-AA Montana State - and are coming off a heartbreaking 14-13 loss at Georgia.

Colorado (0-4, 0-0 North) had a 13-0 lead against the Bulldogs before backup quarterback Joe Cox rallied Georgia for two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including a go-ahead 20-yard pass to tight end Martrez Milner with 46 seconds remaining.

Missouri leads the series, 36-31-3, but Colorado holds a 7-3 edge since the formation of the Big 12.