Jan. 4, 2006

Columbia, Mo. -

Research indicates that the University of Missouri football team's comeback win from a 21-point deficit in the Independence Bowl over South Carolina was indeed the greatest comeback win in Mizzou history. 

An extensive listing of comeback wins did not previously exist, but new research shows that the previous best was 14 points, which has happened several times throughout the years.   

Of note is the fact that the previous record for largest deficit overcome to win by Mizzou was 14 points, and that of the six previous occurrences, Head Coach Gary Pinkel held two of those comeback victories (2001 at Oklahoma State and 2001 at Kansas).

One other quick note, CB Marcus King's 99-yard INT return for a TD in the I-Bowl not only set MU and I-Bowl records, but it also now ranks as the longest INT return for a TD in NCAA Div. I-A bowl history, according to the 2005 NCAA Football Records Book...

GREATEST COMEBACK WINS IN MIZZOU FOOTBALL HISTORY

Deficit       Season      Opponent                    Biggest Deficit                 Final Score

21              2005          South Carolina%          21-0, 2nd Quarter              W, 38-31

14              1966          at Illinois                       14-0, 2nd Quarter              W, 21-14

14              1976          at Ohio State                21-7, 3rd Quarter               W, 22-21

14              1977          at Colorado                  14-0, 2nd Quarter              W, 24-14

14              1981          at Colorado                  14-0, 2nd Quarter              W, 30-14

14              2001          at Oklahoma State        14-0, 2nd Quarter              W, 41-38 (3-OT)

14              2001          at Kansas                     14-0, 2nd Quarter              W, 38-34

13              1949          Nebraska                     20-7, 4th Quarter               W, 21-20

13              1951          Oklahoma A&M          13-0, 1st Quarter               W, 27-26

13              1972          Oregon                         13-0, 2nd Quarter              W, 24-22

13              1975          at Illinois                       20-7, 2nd Quarter              W, 30-20

13              1979          San Diego State            13-0, 3rd Quarter               W, 45-15

10              1969          Oklahoma                    10-0, 2nd Quarter              W, 44-10

10              1974          at Nebraska                 10-0, 4th Quarter               W, 21-10

10              1974          Colorado                      10-0, 1st Quarter               W, 30-24

10              1978          at Nebraska                 17-7 (2nd) & 24-14 (3rd)  W, 35-31

10              1983          Oklahoma State            10-0, 2nd Quarter              W, 16-10

10              1985          at Iowa State                24-14, 3rd Quarter             W, 28-27

10              1987          at Iowa State                17-7, 2nd Quarter              W, 42-17

10              2003          Nebraska                     24-14, 4th Quarter             W, 41-24

10              2005          Iowa State                    24-14, 4th Quarter             W, 27-24 (OT)

%-2005 Independence Bowl

GREATEST COMEBACK TIES IN MIZZOU FOOTBALL HISTORY

Deficit       Season      Opponent                    Biggest Deficit                 Final Score

14              1944          at Oklahoma                 21-7, 4th Quarter               Tie, 21-21

14              1965          UCLA                          14-0, 2nd Quarter              Tie, 14-14

10              1966          Iowa State                    10-0, 4th Quarter               Tie, 10-10