Missouri football: Ranking the 5 easiest games on the 2021 schedule

Everyone loves an underdog story. This story may need a mercy rule though.

Remember that some college programs are not all built the same? That is certainly the case when comparing FBS and FCS programs.

The Southeast Missouri Redhawks have had some recent success, including nine-win seasons in 2018 and 2019. 2019 featured a playoff appearance and prompt dismissal at the hands of the Illinois State Redbirds. To provide some context, one of the Redhawk’s four 2019 losses was a 50-0 drubbing by the Tigers.

The program is seemingly teetering on the brink, following a 4-4 2020 season and a complete lack of talent on all fronts for 2021.

This is a lock for Missouri. A win for the Redhawks would be the stuff of legend and deserve a Hollywood dramatization.

These two teams have met three times since 2008. None of the games have been close, even by FBS vs. FCS standards.

It has to be frustrating for fans, but luckily for Southeast Missouri, this is not a season opener. The Redhawks travel to Columbia, which is almost three-and-a-half hours away after the Tigers face the Kentucky Wildcats. That game figures to be a close one and important to each team’s prospects in 2021. This is both teams’ third game of the season, so both should be comfortable and have the season start’s jitters gone.

Barring any disastrous injuries or miraculous performances, the Tigers should easily handle the Redhawks.

This has been the case previously, should be the case in the future as well.