1997 Missouri Tigers football team

1997 Missouri Tigers football
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
DivisionNorth Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 23
APNo. 23
Record7–5 (5–3 Big 12)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJerry Berndt (4th season)
Defensive coordinatorMoe Ankney (4th season)
Home stadiumFaurot Field
Seasons
← 1996
1998 →
1997 Big 12 Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
North Division
No. 2 Nebraska † xy$   8 0     13 0  
No. 8 Kansas State  %   7 1     11 1  
No. 23 Missouri   5 3     7 5  
Colorado   3 5     5 6  
Kansas   3 5     5 6  
Iowa State   1 7     1 10  
South Division
No. 20 Texas A&M xy   6 2     9 4  
No. 24 Oklahoma State   5 3     8 4  
Texas Tech   5 3     6 5  
Texas   2 6     4 7  
Oklahoma   2 6     4 8  
Baylor   1 7     2 9  
Championship: Nebraska 54, Texas A&M 15
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • † – Coaches Poll National Champion
    $ – Bowl Alliance representative as champion
    % – Bowl Alliance at-large representative
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1997 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. The 1997 Tigers went 7–5 (5–3 in Big 12 play), ending a streak of 13 consecutive losing seasons. However, the Tigers lost to Colorado State, 35–24, in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. They played their home games at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri. They were members of the Big 12 Conference in the North Division. The team was coached by head coach Larry Smith.

The loss to eventual the national champion, (and then top-ranked) Nebraska in overtime came after the infamous Flea Kicker play. This was a deflection reception off an unintentionally kicked pass as the receiver that was falling and tried pull the ball to his chest with his foot, resulting in a deflection off the foot that another receiver was able to dive a catch.