In a major blow to Missouri’s upset bid against No. 15 Alabama this Saturday, the Tigers will be without star running back Nate Noel. Sources told ESPN on Wednesday that the Appalachian State transfer is expected to miss the pivotal SEC matchup due to a foot injury he suffered in last week’s game against Auburn.
Noel, who leads Mizzou with 503 rushing yards on an impressive 5.9 yards per carry this season, exited the Auburn contest in the first half after sustaining the foot issue. While he did return for one second-half carry, going for 6 yards, the dynamic tailback was mostly sidelined as the Tigers held on for a 34-27 victory.
According to sources close to the situation, Noel is unlikely to practice at all this week leading up to the Alabama game. His status beyond Saturday remains uncertain, with a post-bye week re-evaluation planned for the first-year Tiger. Missouri has a bye on Nov. 2 before returning to action Nov. 9 at home against Kentucky.
Noel’s Emergence as Mizzou’s Top Weapon
Since transferring from Appalachian State this offseason, Noel has quickly established himself as Missouri’s most explosive offensive weapon. The elusive back introduced himself to SEC defenses with a 199-yard outburst in a win over Vanderbilt, followed by a 121-yard effort to key an upset of Boston College.
Noel’s ability to consistently churn out chunk plays on the ground has added a much-needed dimension to a Mizzou attack that ranked just 82nd nationally in rushing a year ago. Behind their new workhorse, the Tigers are putting up over 190 yards per game on the ground in 2024, good for 38th in the country.
More Pressure on Carroll, Cook
With Noel sidelined, look for senior Marcus Carroll to handle the bulk of the backfield duties against an always-stout Alabama front seven. The Georgia State transfer has been productive in a complementary role this year, rushing for 321 yards and a team-high six touchdowns.
Marcus has been fantastic for us all year. He runs hard, finds the end zone, and takes a lot of pressure off the passing game. We’re going to need a big day from him against Bama.
– Missouri coach Jay Norvell
Mizzou will also lean more on dual-threat quarterback Brady Cook to make plays with his legs in Noel’s absence. The junior has rushed for three scores this year while throwing for 12 touchdowns against just four interceptions.
A Rare Opportunity in Tuscaloosa
Even without their top rusher, the No. 21 Tigers have to like their chances of springing the upset in a venue where wins are extremely hard to come by for visitors. Alabama has looked surprisingly vulnerable in Bryant-Denny Stadium, narrowly escaping Texas and losing outright to Tennessee in their last two home tilts.
If Mizzou can control the clock with a heavy dose of Carroll and timely runs from Cook, the underdog Tigers just might have the formula to stun the Crimson Tide and throw the SEC race into further chaos. A win would keep the Tigers on the fringe of the College Football Playoff race heading into the home stretch.
Noel’s untimely injury certainly makes the task tougher for upstart Missouri. But in a season full of wild upsets and unforeseen twists, the surging Tigers still have more than enough firepower to give the mighty Tide all they can handle under the bright lights in T-Town.
