The Missouri football team kicked off the 2023 season on Thursday night at home against South Dakota football. Things went well for the Tigers in the opener as they cruised to a stress-free 35-10 victory over the Coyotes. A big topic of discussion surrounding the Missouri football program has been about who the quarterback will be this season. On Thursday night, Brady Cook got most of the action, and Sam Horn came in for a little bit of time as well. Cook went 17/21 for 172 yards and one touchdown, and Horn threw for 54 yards and one touchdown on 3/5 passing. After the game, head coach Eliah Drinkwitz gave an update on the race.

“Yeah, he has a leg up on it,” Eliah Drinwitz said in regards to Brady Cook, according to a tweet from Power Mizzou. “That’s why he went out there first.”

The fact that Missouri had Cook start the game and had him throw 21 passes compared to Horn's five tells you all you need to know. Cook is likely going to be the guy unless he starts playing poorly. His performance against South Dakota was solid, but it's South Dakota. The schedule is going to get much tougher. Missouri hosts Middle Tennessee State football next week which should be another tuneup before #16 Kansas State football comes to town the following weekend. That matchup will certainly be a big test for whoever is playing QB.

Right now, it looks the QB job at Missouri is Brady Cook's to lose. We'll see how the situation continues to develop as the season goes on.