By Chris Marler
Brady Cook heard the critics. There were a lot of them, including me.
A year ago, Cook was the focal point of praise for a Missouri team that went 11-2, becoming an offensive juggernaut at times during the season. Cook ended 2023 with over 3600 total yards and 29 touchdowns.
This year has been a different story though. Through six games Cook ranked tenth in the conference in passer rating, ninth in QBR, and tenth in passing touchdowns with just seven.
A few categories not listed – guts, pride, and leadership.
Cook showed once again that he is more than full of all three of those as he returned from injury to lead Missouri to one of their biggest come from behind wins since they joined the SEC.
Cook exited the game on the second drive of the first quarter with an ankle injury and didn’t come back until late in the third quarter. On his first drive, with the Tigers trailing 17-6, he hit Mookie Cooper on a 78-yard completion down to the Auburn two.
Then, it was time for hero ball. And Cook delivered.
With a little over four minutes to go, Cook led Missouri on a 17-play, 95-yard drive ending in a go-ahead touchdown to take a 21-17 lead. That was a lead they never surrendered, leaving Faurot Field with a 6-1 record and handing Auburn only their second loss in the last 20 years when leading by 14 or more points in the second half.
Cook was 3-for-3 on third and fourth down on the drive for 39 yards, while converting another with his legs on a 14 yards scramble. Cook cooked and he did it when the Missouri Tigers needed him most.
The win moves Missouri to 6-1 before their trip to Tuscaloosa next weekend. For Auburn, the catastrophic collapse feels like it’s becoming the norm under Hugh Freeze, as the Tigers drop to 2-5 on the year.
