Auburn Football Analyst Shares Humorous Message on Why Mizzou Game Will Be Key 2025 Matchup
Ah, Auburn football—where excitement, heartbreak, and the occasional ‘What in the world just happened?’ moment collide in a glorious 11-week ride. Between the inevitable roller-coaster seasons, the coaching changes, and the promise of maybe, just maybe, a College Football Playoff berth, Auburn fans live for the thrills. However, sometimes it’s the “unexpected” games that become the season-defining moments, the ones that, even if we try to avoid them, always manage to sneak up and prove more consequential than we could ever imagine.
And that, dear reader, brings us to the 2025 Auburn vs. Missouri game. Yes, you read that right. The showdown against Mizzou—yes, that Mizzou, the team that, while often overlooked, has a knack for ruining playoff aspirations—is being circled by many Auburn football analysts as a must-watch game that could dictate the fate of the Tigers’ season.
To fully appreciate this prediction, let’s take a look at the quirky reasoning behind why the Auburn vs. Mizzou matchup is not only important but also just might be the most key game of the 2025 season.
1. Mizzou: The SEC’s Sneaky Overachiever
Sure, Missouri isn’t exactly Alabama or Georgia, but let’s not forget that every few years, Mizzou has a habit of pulling off upsets that seem to shatter expectations. Maybe it’s because they have a football program that’s consistently underestimated by everyone outside of Columbia. Maybe it’s because no one thinks of Missouri as a true contender, but then they come out, shock the world, and suddenly you’re questioning everything you thought you knew about SEC football.
Auburn fans know this all too well. The 2021 game between these two teams? A painful reminder that Mizzou is perfectly capable of throwing a wrench into your season. The Tigers (Auburn) came into that game with playoff aspirations, but Mizzou came to play, forcing Auburn to dig deep into its soul (and its offensive playbook) just to stay competitive. The result was a dramatic nail-biter that Auburn managed to win, but let’s not kid ourselves: it was a battle.
Mizzou might not be on the same level as the heavyweights in the conference, but they are that friend who shows up at the party, says something completely unexpected, and then somehow manages to get the last laugh. In 2025, that Mizzou team might be more than just a roadblock—they could be the team that either saves or breaks Auburn’s season.
2. The “Trap Game” Factor
Every SEC schedule has a “trap game”—the matchup where you’re supposed to win, but everything goes sideways. For Auburn in 2025, the Missouri game has all the makings of that classic “trap game.” After all, the Tigers’ schedule is absolutely loaded, with traditional powerhouses and potential top-10 teams at every turn. But then you have Mizzou—mid-tier, unpredictable, but dangerous. Mizzou could be the proverbial banana peel on Auburn’s path to greatness.
And let’s not ignore the fact that this game is likely going to fall somewhere in the middle of the season when Auburn has had a grueling start. With high-profile games against Alabama, Georgia, and LSU, Auburn’s emotional and physical energy could be drained by the time they hit Missouri. Add in the possibility of an overconfident mindset, and suddenly, the Auburn Tigers could find themselves on the wrong side of a wild upset. Fans might think, “We’re supposed to beat Missouri,” and before they know it, that sense of complacency is the opening Mizzou needs to strike.
Mizzou’s ability to sneak up on bigger programs is no joke. Look back to the 2024 season—Missouri was able to keep games competitive against top-tier opponents, showing that it can surprise the masses. So, when Auburn takes the field in 2025 against Mizzou, the margin for error is slim. It’s a classic setup for a trap game that could have lasting ramifications for the rest of the season.
3. The “Homecoming” of Auburn Coaches and Players
The 2025 Mizzou game also brings an intriguing subplot—the potential homecoming of former Auburn assistants, players, or recruits now wearing the Mizzou colors. SEC football is famous for its internal drama, and this matchup could feature more than just the typical conference rivalry. Imagine a scenario where an Auburn assistant coach who once served under Gus Malzahn returns to Jordan-Hare Stadium as a Missouri coach. Add in some of those players who chose Mizzou over Auburn (or perhaps transferred out of Auburn and found their new homes in Columbia), and you’ve got yourself a situation full of extra motivation.
These types of storylines always add another layer to the game. The internal fire to prove a point against one’s old program could spark some fiery performances, making the Mizzou game even more unpredictable and, dare we say, even more personal than expected.
4. The SEC East vs. SEC West Showdown
Now, let’s talk about the rivalry between the SEC East and SEC West, which is always filled with tension. Even though Auburn doesn’t meet every SEC East team every season, when they do, it’s a showdown with some very specific conference implications. Auburn’s struggles with Missouri in the past have shown that a simple cross-division matchup can have massive implications for the SEC standings.
In 2025, the game could become a key point in the race for the SEC Championship, where Missouri’s scrappy style of play could give Auburn fits, or conversely, it could be a momentum boost for the Tigers’ championship aspirations. The SEC East teams like Missouri often pride themselves on being the underdogs, and they know that knocking off a West team like Auburn can catapult them into the spotlight. The game will undoubtedly be more than just an intra-conference rivalry—it will be a battle for bragging rights between two proud SEC programs, with major playoff implications on the line.
5. The “What Happens if Auburn Loses?” Scenario
Auburn football analysts love to entertain the worst-case scenario, and the Mizzou game provides that in spades. What if Auburn falls short against Missouri in 2025? It’s a bitter pill to swallow, especially when you consider how much Auburn fans have invested in the season, their hopes for a new coach, and a revitalized offense. A loss to Missouri could completely derail the team’s trajectory, and nothing stings worse than losing to a team that’s just not considered in the same tier.
Auburn’s psyche as a program can be fragile at times. Auburn fans know how to rally after tough losses, but it’s hard to imagine the emotional toll of an early-season loss to Mizzou not lingering. Could this be the game that sparks a chain reaction leading to an implosion of sorts? Could we see Auburn fans in an existential crisis about the future of the program? The aftermath of a loss to Missouri might include frenzied calls for coaching changes, player transfers, or existential questions about Auburn’s place in the SEC.
6. The Influence of Auburn’s Fanbase
Auburn’s fanbase is nothing if not passionate, and they have a particular love/hate relationship with “sneaky” teams like Missouri. When they’re playing against a powerhouse, the fanbase tends to get that “us against the world” mentality that fuels their energy. But when playing a team like Missouri—who’s more likely to sneak under the radar—it’s hard to gauge exactly how fired up Auburn’s faithful will be. Will the team show up in the same way against Mizzou as they would for a big rivalry game?
This game has all the makings of a true test of Auburn’s mental toughness. Will the Tigers rise to the occasion? Or will they fall victim to the same inconsistency that has defined their last few seasons? How loud and active will the fans be in Jordan-Hare when they know that this mid-season contest could make or break the team’s playoff chances? Expect the roar of the crowd to be deafening—or maybe eerily quiet—depending on the stakes as they unfold.
