Murray State football began its 100th season under new Head Coach Jody Wright with a challenging opener against the 11th-ranked Missouri Tigers, resulting in a 51-0 loss at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri. The Racers, facing the defending Cotton Bowl champions, saw Missouri take an early lead, scoring on their first drive with a 16-yard pass following an unsuccessful onside kick by Murray State. Missouri extended their advantage after capitalizing on a short field, scoring again on a nine-yard rush when the Racers failed to convert a fourth-down attempt. Despite these early setbacks, the Racers’ defense found their footing, limiting the Tigers to just one touchdown in the second quarter, with Kevon Haigler recovering a fumble to force Missouri’s first turnover of the season.
Amari Wansley led the Racers defensively with 10 tackles, while Kavan Reed impressed with a pass breakup and a tackle for loss. Freshman Australian punter Thomas O’Hara made his American football debut, averaging 43.9 yards on eight punts, three of which landed inside Missouri’s 20-yard line. Jordan Washington also made history as the first true freshman to start at running back for Murray State since 2017. The game, played in front of a sold-out crowd of 62,621, marked Jody Wright’s first as Murray State’s head football coach, a position he assumed in January. The Racers will look to bounce back when they return home to Roy Stewart Stadium on September 7 to host Butler, marking the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
