We all know that four games into the season, Florida has a high-flying offense that can seemingly score from anywhere on the field. The average starting field position for the Gators on drives that have ended in a touchdown has been their own 35-yard line.
Missouri can have a notable offense as well, especially when things are clicking. But upon further review, there seems to be a massive catch as to where the Tigers are actually scoring their touchdowns from this year.
Missouri needs a short field to score a touchdown in 2026
Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports tweeted out a fascinating graphic that compared the total number of touchdowns a team has scored to their average starting field position on drives that end in a touchdown. Florida has the third most offensive touchdowns in the country so far, but their average starting field position on those TD’s has been in line with the rest of the country.
That is not the case for Missouri. The Tigers have 17 offensive touchdowns this year. As Fornelli points out, 11 of those started from inside the 50-yard line, and the average length of a Missouri touchdown drive is 44 yards, the shortest in the country by a long shot.
A deeper look at the data highlights a team incapable of stringing together extended drives to score. Not counting their opening game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and not counting end-of-game drives that ended in a kneel-down, Missouri has had 36 total offensive drives in their three games against FBS opponents (Kansas, Troy, and Mississippi State).
Nine of those drives came after a change of possession that wasn’t a punt or kickoff (fumble, interception, turnover on downs, etc.), and Missouri has scored a touchdown on six of those drives.
In the 27 offensive drives Missouri has had against FBS competition following a punt or a kickoff, the Tigers have scored a TD on four of those drives.
That’s a success rate of 14.8%.
If you are keeping score at home, Florida has 16 offensive touchdowns following a punt or kickoff against FBS competition (FAU, Auburn, and Ole Miss).
Translation:
We all know Florida’s defense has question marks, and we aren’t here to gloss over that. But Missouri hasn’t proven it can string drives together the way Florida has in 2026.
And Brad White has had a hint of success against Missouri in the past.
Barring a complete implosion of the offense and a performance by the Florida defense that raises serious questions about White, there is reason to believe Florida should be fine against Missouri as long as they don’t start turning the ball over.
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