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With slide over, Missouri heads on road to visit Baylor

Nov 1, 2008 - 10:52 AM (14) Missouri (6-2) at Baylor (3-5), 3:00 pm EDT

WACO, Texas (Ticker) -- The doom and gloomed that descended over Columbia has lifted.

Fresh off their best defensive effort of the season, 14th-ranked Missouri begins the final third of its season at Baylor on Saturday.

After allowing 84 points in back-to-back losses to Oklahoma State and Texas, the Tigers' battered defense responded last week.

Missouri, which entered the game ranked 100th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in defense, blanked Colorado, 58-0, for its first shutout in a conference game since a 48-0 victory over Kansas on November 22, 1986.

"I think we have to prove something to ourselves that we can bounce back," said Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel, who tied his school record with five touchdown passes. "It's a good feeling to get back to winning."

Daniel completed his first 14 passes and was 31-for-37 for 302 yards with one interception against the Buffaloes.

Chase Coffman caught seven passes to set an FBS record for career receptions by tight ends. He has 220 career catches, surpassing the previous mark of 217 set by Louisville's Ibn Green from 1996-99.

"I think my football team responded to the challenge of getting refocused, and I'm very pleased with that," Missouri coach Gary Pinkell said. "It's been a couple tough weeks."

Despite the two losses, Missouri (5-3, 2-2 Big 12 North) is still in control of its own destiny in the division race and is in the favorable portion of its schedule.

Following Saturday's game, the Tigers host Kansas State and visit Iowa State - two teams which are not in a contending position. The Big 12 North title likely will be decided when Missouri faces Kansas on November 29.

Baylor (3-5, 1-3 South) led Nebraska at halftime in Lincoln last week but couldn't close out the victory, suffering a 32-20 victory.

The Bears' defense, which will be severely tested by Daniel and the Tigers, allowed Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz to pass for 336 yards and three touchdowns.

Baylor has yet to face Daniel, as its last game against Missouri was a 31-16 loss in Columbia in 2005.