Missouri opens its college football season Thursday, Sept. 1 against Louisiana Tech. The game will be live streamed on DirecTV Stream (free trial) and fuboTV (live stream).
Missouri is hoping to get off to a fast start against Louisiana Tech with a showdown at former Big 12 rival Kansas State looming in Week 2. The Tigers and Bulldogs meet for the first time on Thursday night at Faurot Field in Columbia.
Missouri has retooled much of its roster with 14 of its 19 transfers arriving from Division I schools. Louisiana Tech will be playing its first game under Sonny Cumbie, who took over when Skip Holtz departed after a 3-9 finish last season.
When is Missouri-La. Tech?
Missouri plays La. Tech at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. ET) Thursday, Sept. 1.
Live stream options DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream offers a free trial.
There are three options of DirecTV Stream for the game.
The Choice Package has more than 90 channels and is $74.99 during the promotion. The channels in ENTERTAINMENT, plus MLB Network, NBA TV, college sports networks, and more. Enjoy Regional Sports Networks with no additional fees.
The Ultimate Package has more than 130 channels and is $89.99 during the promotion. Everything in CHOICE, plus Oxygen, Golf Channel, NHL Network, Universal Kids and more.
The Premier Package has more than 140 channels and is $134.99 during the promotion. Everything in ULTIMATE, plus HBO Max, SHOWTIME, STARZ, Cinemax and more.
DirecTV Stream offers a free trial that doesn’t require much effort.
To sign up, enter a phone number, email address and credit card, and you’ll receive five days of the service without charge.
In addition, enhance your experience with the DirecTV Stream device. While it doesn’t include a free trial, it give you access to thousands of apps like Netflix and more on Google Play. You can search using the voice remote with Google Assistant, and you can enjoy a traditional live TV channel guide. It is sold separately.
FuboTV
The game will be live streamed on fuboTV, which offers a free trial. The most basic of plans is the “fubo standard” package, which comprises 121-plus channels for $69.99 per month. Like all cord-cutting alternatives, there are plenty of options, especially for sports. It comes with more than 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR, and up to 10 screens at once.
Will it be televised?
Missouri-La. Tech will be televised on ESPNU.
Preview
KEY MATCHUP: Missouri is breaking in its fifth starting quarterback in five years in Brady Cook, though he will have plenty of talent around him. That includes freshman Luther Burden III, whom many recruiting outlets pegged as the No. 1 wide receiver prospect in the country last season. They’ll be going against a Louisiana Tech pass defense that was quietly among the best in Conference USA last season. The leader in the Bulldogs secondary is safety BeeJay Williamson.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Louisiana Tech: QB Matthew Downing won the starting job in fall camp. The well-traveled junior began his career at Georgia, and then transferred to TCU, where he helped to run Cumbie’s offense in 2020. Downing will be helped by preseason All-Conference USA WR Smoke Harris, who led the Bulldogs with 71 catches for 756 yards and six TDs last season.
Missouri: RB Tyler Badie was the workhorse a year ago and it could take a trio to replace him. Elijah Young has experience in the system but will be pushed by a couple of transfers. Cody Schrader led Division II with 2,074 yards rushing for Truman State last season while Nathaniel Peat led Stanford with 404 yards and three touchdowns.
FACTS & FIGURES: Louisiana Tech is opening on the road for the fifth straight season. … Cumbie went 2-3 as interim coach of Texas Tech last season, including a 34-7 win over Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl. … Louisiana Tech added 24 transfers, 11 on offense and 13 on defense. … Bulldogs LB Tyler Grubbs had 99 tackles as a freshman and 94 as a redshirt freshman, earning all-conference honors both seasons. … Louisiana Tech has not defeated an SEC opponent since a 27-7 victory over Ole Miss in 2011. … Harris has caught a pass in 14 consecutive games while leading the Bulldogs in receptions in the last 12. … Downing is the fourth different starting QB in the last four years for Louisiana Tech. … Missouri has 50 new players from last season with 31 freshmen and 19 transfers. That includes 14 arrivals from Division I schools. … Cook earned the starting QB job for Missouri after playing in five games last season. He threw for 238 yards and a touchdown in the Armed Forces Bowl against Army. … Preseason All-American K Harrison Mevis was 23 of 25 on field goals last season, setting a school record for best percentage. … Missouri allowed 229.3 yards per game on the ground last season, better than only six Division I schools.
