The Missouri Tigers suffered a significant blow on Wednesday when it was announced that leading rusher Nate Noel (foot) would miss Saturday’s showdown against No. 15 Alabama, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Noel suffered the injury during the Tigers’ Week 8 win over Auburn.
After transferring from Appalachian State, Noel has been a major contributing factor for Missouri this season. Not only does he lead the team in rushing with 503 yards and an impressive 5.9 yards per carry, Noel has also accounted for 199 yards on the ground against Vanderbilt while rushing for 121 yards against Boston College.
In Noel’s absence, the focus will shift to senior Marcus Carroll, who has rushed for 321 yards and six TDs this season. Freshman Jamal Roberts may also get some touches considering he has accounted for three rushing TDs on the season.
The injury comes at a crucial time for Missouri, as the 21st-ranked Tigers prepare for a road trip to face the Crimson Tide. The game carries huge significance for Missouri, which has a 6-1 record.
While Missouri is one of a whopping seven teams in the SEC with one or fewer losses in conference play, their lone defeat came from 14th-ranked Texas A&M, which currently sits at the top of the standings at 4-0 in conference play. Due to the competitiveness of the league, a second loss for the Tigers would make their road to the conference title game and the College Football Playoff a lot more arduous, potentially putting an end to their playoff hopes altogether.
With a bye week looming after the Alabama game, Missouri will have an extra week to evaluate Noel before their final four games of the season, which are all against currently unranked teams.
