COLUMBIA, Mo. (Interstat) — Missouri overcame an early deficit and defeated Troy 27-17 in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. The announced attendance was 63,609. Missouri improved to 2-0 on the season, while Troy dropped to 2-1. Austin Simmons threw for one touchdown, Jamal Roberts ran for 128 yards and a score, and the Tigers used a 24-point first-half surge to take control before holding off the Trojans.

Troy opened the scoring quickly. Goose Crowder hit TK Keyes for a 76-yard touchdown pass with 14:15 remaining in the first quarter, and Ethan Head made the extra point. The Trojans added to their lead later in the quarter when Head converted a 27-yard field goal with 50 seconds left. Crowder completed 18 of 32 passes for 230 yards, two touchdowns and one tackle. Keyes finished with two receptions for 83 yards and one touchdown. Howard Kinchen also delivered a big day for Troy with five catches for 80 yards and one score. Jace Petty had three receptions for 20 yards and one carry for three yards. Jordan Lovett caught three passes for 12 yards and carried seven times for one yard.

Missouri got on the board in the second quarter when Blake Craig made a 35-yard field goal with 11:18 left before halftime. The Tigers then evened the game when DaMarion Fowlkes returned an Evan Crenshaw punt 68 yards for a touchdown with 9:39 remaining in the quarter. Craig’s extra point tied the score. Fowlkes also had one reception for 17 yards, two kick returns for 39 yards and two punt returns for 68 yards.

The Tigers kept pressure on Troy later in the second quarter. Simmons connected with Donovan Olugbode for a 12-yard touchdown with 2:03 remaining, and Craig added the extra point. Roberts then broke loose for a 13-yard touchdown run with 1:44 left, and Craig converted again to push Missouri’s lead to 24-10. Simmons completed 10 of 19 passes for 91 yards and one touchdown and rushed twice for three yards. Olugbode caught three passes for 31 yards and one touchdown. Roberts carried 22 times for 128 yards and one touchdown and added two receptions for 13 yards.

Troy answered just before halftime when Crowder found Kinchen for a 55-yard touchdown with six seconds remaining. Head made the extra point to cut Missouri’s lead to 24-17. Troy’s passing game also featured Mojo Dortch, who had two catches for 13 yards, and Nick Hampton, who had two catches for 13 yards and one tackle. Noreel White had one reception for nine yards. Gavin Griffin led Troy’s rushing attack with 17 carries for 56 yards. Jaheim Merriweather added nine carries for 44 yards.

Missouri’s Xai’Shaun Edwards ran three times for nine yards. Cayden Lee caught four passes for 30 yards for the Tigers. Punting played a role in field position throughout the game. Brunno Reus punted seven times for 324 yards for Missouri, while Evan Crenshaw punted six times for 253 yards for Troy.

Missouri’s defense produced several key stops. Santana Banner recorded 16 tackles. Nicholas Rodriguez added 11 tackles. Daeden Hopkins had seven tackles, 1.5 sacks and a quarterback hurry. Dante McClellan finished with four tackles and half a sack. Langden Kitchen recorded three tackles, one sack and one quarterback hurry. Sione Laulea contributed four tackles and an interception. Elijah Dotson made five tackles. Jeremiah Beasley, Robert Woodyard Jr. and Trajen Greco each had four tackles. Jason Dowell added two tackles.

Troy’s defense was led by Justin Powe, who made 14 tackles. Keno Jones added six tackles. Jamarion Keyes and Jordan Perry each recorded four tackles, and TJ Thompson also had four tackles. Tai Terrell contributed three tackles. Jabari Strait, Joe Lott and Donnie Smith each made two tackles. Kavion Henderson, Shemar Welch, Rodge Waldrop, Jaxon Penn, Bryce Steele, Luke Hodge, Keyshawn Campbell, Doug Nelson and RaKeem Davis each finished with one tackle.

In the fourth quarter, Craig made a 36-yard field goal for Missouri. Troy’s Head attempted a 54-yard field goal with 2:46 remaining, but the kick was no good. Craig finished with two field goals and three extra points for Missouri. Head made a 27-yard field goal and two extra points for Troy. Missouri entered the game after a 54-14 home win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 3 and a 38-21 win at Kansas on Sept. 11. Troy had beaten Sam Houston 24-21 on Sept. 5 and Alabama State 34-17 on Sept. 12. Missouri’s win came in non-conference play and kept the Tigers unbeaten before conference action. Troy’s loss ended a two-game winning streak to open the season.

Troy’s upcoming schedule includes a trip to Utah State on Sept. 26, a home game against Southern Mississippi on Oct. 6, a visit to Louisiana on Oct. 17, a home matchup with Louisiana-Monroe on Oct. 24, a trip to James Madison on Oct. 29, a home game against Louisiana Tech on Nov. 7, a visit to South Alabama on Nov. 14, a home game against Georgia Southern on Nov. 21 and a trip to Arkansas State on Nov. 28. Missouri’s schedule features a trip to Mississippi State on Sept. 26, home games against Florida on Oct. 3 and Texas A&M on Oct. 10, a visit to Ole Miss on Oct. 17, a trip to Arkansas on Oct. 31, home games against Texas on Nov. 7, Kentucky on Nov. 21 and Oklahoma on Nov. 28, and a visit to Georgia on Nov. 14.

Interstat’s game simulator projected Missouri 34, Troy 29. Interstat’s ELO system gave Missouri a 93.9 percent probability to win. Troy had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +27.5. The total score of 44 went over the over/under line of 49.5.