Missouri hasn't started a season 2-3 since head coach Gary Pinkel's first year in Columbia. The Tigers are 0-2 in Big 12 play entering Saturday's homecoming game against Iowa State (3-2, 0-2), mirroring a 2009 season when the 4-0 Tigers began Big 12 play 0-3 en route to a 8-5 season.
The good news for Mizzou is that they're at home - all three of their losses have come to ranked opponents (Arizona State, Oklahoma, Kansas State) on the road - and they're playing an Iowa State team they beaten seven out of their last nine meetings.
With the ongoing commotion surrounding the Tigers' future in the Big 12 temporarily put to rest this week, they can focus solely on improving on a porous defense and an uncharacteristically stalled scoring offense. The Kansas City Star's Mike Dearmond breaks down the statistical horror:
Missouri ranks 96th nationally in pass efficiency defense, 82nd in first downs allowed, 113th in penalties called against (43 in five games) and 111th in penalty yardage assessed (356).
On offense, Missouri is 85th in touchdowns scored on red-zone possessions and 97th in field goals made on red-zone possessions.
After jumping out to a surprising 3-0 start, Iowa State has been shelled for 86 points in back-to-back losses to Texas and Baylor.