How Mizzou’s defense adjusted to Iowa’s offense in the second half

Missouri surrendered Iowa’s most potent first half showing on offense since 2019, and then held them to just three points in the second half.

Missouri allowed 7.5 yards per play in the first half of the Music City Bowl against Iowa, and that doesn’t include a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown from the Hawkeyes on special teams. The 7.5 yards per play is the most for Iowa since 2019 against Middle Tennessee, a Blue Raider team that finished 4-8 that season.

Brandon Sullivan, who spent most of the season as a backup to starting quarterback Cade McNamara, threw 8/9 for 88 yards and a touchdown in the first half. He also added five carries for 31 yards. His performance was characterized by loose coverage combined with no pressure from the Mizzou defensive line, which allowed him to make easy reads on quick passes.

“We knew at halftime if we could just contain the quarterback run, we would be okay. [Sullivan]’s scrambles hurt us,” Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz said.

Even without Doak Walker finalist halfback Kaleb Johnson, who opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft, the Hawkeyes rushed for 107 yards at 6.1 yards per carry in the first half showing their prowess moving the football in all three facets.

Missed tackles were a huge issue in the first half, as this play from Sullivan made highlight reels across America. The defensive performance was especially surprising considering the lack of opt-outs on that side of the ball.

The narrative that the Tigers were being dominated was reduced to nothingness in the second half, however, as they took on the offense’s season-long mantra, and following a lackluster first half, the Tigers executed a near perfect second half.

Leading 21-14 and receiving possession of the ball to begin the second half, Iowa had a big opportunity to get points on the board and give the Hawkeyes the game’s first two possession lead. However, the Missouri defense got its first forced stop of the day and forced Iowa to punt, keeping the game within reach.

I say first “forced stop” because the Hawkeyes’ lone punt in the first half came thanks to two unforced Iowa mistakes: A drop on third down and short from a Hawkeye tight end that was wide open and Kirk Ferentz deciding not to go for it on fourth and short in Tiger territory despite his offense averaging over seven yards a play.

Defensive coordinator Corey Batoon’s defense seemed to adjust very nicely to at least the passing side of Iowa’s offense as his team only allowed 17 yards passing in the first two drives of the half. Iowa still made progress with chunk runs, one of the only things their offense had done well leading up to this point.

As the stops started piling up for Mizzou, the careless penalties and missed tackles that were paramount to Iowa’s lead in the first half were erased. Sullivan suddenly looked like an Iowa quarterback that the college football world has become accustomed to in recent years, missing throws and being unable to evade pressure.

After the field goal early in the half, the Tigers either forced a turnover or a three-and-out to end each Iowa drive for the remainder of the game. The turnover was a third down interception from Toriano Pride Jr. that I believe was indicative of the shift of the defense in the second half. Missouri simply put in more effort, which allowed them to execute more efficiently.

The changes in the defensive scheme and mentality brought the Hawkeyes down to 3.6 yards per play in the second half, with Sullivan finishing with just 131 yards passing after picking up just 43 in the second half. Rushing-wise, the Hawkeyes’ yards per carry dropped 1.7 yards in the second half, down to a much healthier 4.4 yards per (in the eyes of the Missouri defense, of course).

“Starting off the game, we were pretty good,” Iowa wideout Kaden Wetjen said. “They just made some defensive changes. I couldn’t tell you what stopped us, but we made some mental errors.”

Third downs were also a huge turning point in the second half, as the Hawkeyes were a staggering 80% in the first half and just 12.5% from third down in the second half.

“That was a point of emphasis. Four out of five in the first half,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “Then we were up 6 of 13 overall, which you can do the math on that. That’s 1-and-8 in the second half. That’s pertinent.”

The good defensive play didn’t end as the Tigers stuffed the previously potent Hawkeye run game on multiple occasions, including a game-sealing quarterback sneak from Sullivan on fourth and short. The play was originally stuffed by tackling ace Corey Flagg Jr. jumping over the line, which stopped Sullivan just enough to allow Daylan Carnell to burst through and stop him in his tracks. The stop sealed the game and clinched a 10-win season for the Tigers, their first time earning that title in back-to-back years since 2013-14.