• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Daniel, Missouri finish non-conference play vs. Illinois St

Sep 22, 2007 - 12:37 PM Illinois St (2-1) at No. 25 Missouri (3-0) 2:00 pm EDT

COLUMBIA, Missouri (Ticker) -- Chase Daniel and Missouri should end their non-conference slate with a perfect record.

Daniel leads the 25th-ranked Tigers into Saturday's home matchup against Football Championship Subdivision side Illinois State.

Missouri, which opens Big 12 Conference action next week vs. No. 24 Nebraska, is tied for seventh nationally in total offense at 532 yards per game. A junior, Daniel leads the way for the Tigers, accounting for better than 375 of those yards.

Last week, Missouri improved to 3-0 with a 52-24 thumping of Western Michigan in its home opener. Daniel overcame two interceptions to throw for 328 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 60 yards and a score.

Illinois State has won consecutive contests following a season-opening loss to Drake, including a 24-21 win at Eastern Illinois last week.

Rafael Rice's two-yard TD gave the visitors the lead for good with 6:52 to play, and the Redbirds iced the game when Kaschiev Hunter recovered a fumbled snap at the Illinois State 20 with 26 seconds left.

This is the first meeting between the programs. Illinois State is 0-4 all-time against members of the Big 12.