Rushing Defense
16th - Mizzou - 2.54 ypc, 87 ypg
their opponents rushing offense (how each fared vs. Mizzou in parentheses)
44th- Oklahoma - 4.38 ypc - 177ypg (3.7 ypc, 144 yards)
68th - Arizona State - 4.02 ypc - 140 ypg (3.4 ypc, 104 yards)
120 - Miami (OH) - 1.56 ypc - 49 ypg (2.1 ypc, 76 yards)
96th (in FCS) - Western Illinois - 2.75 ypc, 98 ypg (0.8 ypc, 24 yards)
They really have not faced any good rushing teams. OU is average, at best, running the ball. Arizona State is below average and both Miami (OH) and Western Illinois are terrible.
How well does Mizzou stop the run? They were average vs. the run last year. What do we know to this point?
I think another key statistic for this game is that Mizzou is god awful in 3rd down conversions. Only 29% on the season. That is 113th out of 120 FBS offenses while KSU is 13th in 3rd down conversion rate at better than 50%. Defensively, KSU is 13th in 3rd down conversion allowing only 29% and Mizzou is pretty good at 18th allowing 31%.