Blake Craig overcomes 3 FG misses, hits in 2OT to deliver No. 7 Missouri 30-27 win over Vanderbilt

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Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III (3) scores a touchdown past Vanderbilt safety Marlen Sewell, right, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

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Missouri place kicker Blake Craig (19) watches his field goal attempt hit the goalpost during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

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Missouri running back Marcus Carroll (9) is tackled by Vanderbilt safety De’Rickey Wright (19) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

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Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia scrambles out of the pocket during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

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Missouri running back Nate Noel, left, runs through Vanderbilt safety De’Rickey Wright (19), Randon Fontenette, bottom, and Bryan Longwel, top right, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

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Missouri running back Nate Noel (8) runs past Vanderbilt safety Marlen Sewell (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

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Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea walks the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

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Vanderbilt wide receiver Joseph McVay (87) celebrates his touchdown reception with quarterback Diego Pavia during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

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Vanderbilt running back AJ Newberry (23) falls on a fumble in front of Missouri’s Triston Newson during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

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Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz looks over his playbook during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Blake Craig made up for three missed field goals in regulation by hitting from 37 yards in the second overtime, and Vanderbilt kicker Brock Taylor missed a 31-yarder to keep the game going to allow No. 7 Missouri to escape with a 30-27 win in double-overtime Saturday night.

Brady Cook threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns and Nate Noel ran for 199 yards for Missouri. The Tigers (4-0, 1-0 SEC) avoided a big upset that would have been a blow to their College Football Playoff chances by beating the Commodores (2-2, 0-1) for the fifth straight time.

Diego Pavia had 178 yards passing and two TDs along with 84 yards rushing for Vanderbilt, which beat Virginia Tech in overtime to start the season.

Takeaways

Vanderbilt: The Commodores could easily be 4-0 this season. But they squandered a lead in the final minute of a 36-32 loss to Georgia State, then failed to capitalize on a series of mistakes by Missouri in a loss to the Tigers.

Missouri: The Tigers overcame a slew of mental mistakes and penalties for the second straight game. They trailed Boston College at halftime last week but similarly rallied in the second half for another close win to stay unbeaten on the season.

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Key moment

Missouri kicker Blake Craig missed field goals of 40 and 46 yards in the fourth quarter, either of which would have given the Tigers a 23-20 lead. Brock Taylor missed from 50 with just over three minutes that would have done the same for Vanderbilt. As a result, the Tigers and Commodores had to decide the game in overtime.

Key stat

3 — That’s the number of field goal attempts Craig missed before hitting his eventual winner in double overtime.

Up next

Vanderbilt and Missouri are both off next week. The Commodores return to face No. 4 Alabama and the Tigers head to No. 25 Texas A&M on Oct. 5.

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