Troy Travels to No. 20 Missouri

TROY, Ala. – Troy hits the road for the first time this season, traveling to Columbia, Mo., to face No. 20 Missouri on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

Troy is off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2013, following victories over Sam Houston and Alabama State. A victory over Missouri (2-0) would give the Trojans their first 3-0 start to a season since 2000 (Troy's last season at the FCS level) and first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 22 UTSA in the 2022 Cure Bowl.

After struggling with the ground game in the back half of the 2025 season – outrushed in nine of the final 10 games – the Trojans are averaging 201.5 yards per game through the opening two games of the 2026 campaign. Jaheim Merriweather led the way against Alabama State, rushing for 127 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries.

Troy's defense shut down Alabama State, despite the Hornets' 17 points, which snapped ASU's streak of scoring 30-plus points at 15 consecutive games. Troy limited ASU to just 221 yards of total offense and 105 yards through the air. The Hornets scored on a 50-yard run on the opening possession of the game and then took advantage of two short fields in the third quarter, taking over at Troy's 34- and 30-yard lines.

The Trojans' early defensive success can be traced to playing in the backfield. Troy has 21 tackles for loss through the first two games, sixth-most in the country. SBC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Donnie Smith has a pair of sacks and leads the country with a sack in 11 games over the past two seasons.

Missouri has yet to play a game on Saturday after opening the season with a 54-14 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and beating Kansas, 38-21, last Friday. The Tigers will be without All-American running back Ahmad Hardy for a third straight game, but that hasn't slowed down their offensive attack, which is averaging 515.5 yards per game behind quarterback Austin Simmons. The Ole Miss transfer has completed 36-of-48 passes for 544 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception.

Notable
• Troy is 13-7 in its last 20 games under Gerad Parker

• 28 players made their Troy debut in the season-opening victory over Sam Houston, while 14 players made their NCAA debut ... All told, 37 players have made their Troy debut and 20 their collegiate debut in the opening two games

• Evan Crenshaw has five punts of 50-plus yards through the first two games; the All-American has only attempted 11 punts

• Troy held Sam Houston to just 38 rushing yards on 24 carries ... it was the fewest rushing yards by an opponent in a season opener since Marshall rushed for 25 yards in the 2004 opener

• Troy has won 10 of its past 11 games when rushing for 100-plus yards

• Fabian Rogosch's first quarter touchdown reception against Sam Houston came on the first catch and target of his career; he also caught the game-clinching pass on third down, allowing Troy to kneel out the clock

• Donnie Smith led the Sun Belt with 11 sacks last season ... it was the second time in the last three seasons a Trojan has led the league in sacks (Javon Solomon, 2023, 16)

• Troy had 13 tackles for loss in the opener against Sam Houston; it was the most by a Troy team since 2024, the second-most of the opening weekend and most against an FBS team (Va. Tech had 18 against VMI) ... After week two, it ranks as the second-most nationally against a FBS opponent; Va. Tech had 14 TFL against Old Dominion

• Troy has run between 60-69 plays 12 times under head coach Gerad Parker, the Trojans are 5-7 in those games. When the total jumps to 70-plus plays, Troy is 7-2

• Troy has recorded multiple sacks in 37 games since the start of the 2022 season (28-9), the 17th most in the country. Troy has three or more sacks in 27 games (22-5), the 11th most in the country. Troy has four or more sacks 19 times (17-2), the third most nationally, and five or more sacks 11 times (10-1), the seventh most in the country

• Troy has held 48 of its last 62 opponents to 375 yards of total offense or less; 18-of-28 in the Gerad Parker era

• Troy is 22-34 on the coin toss since 2022; the Trojans are 14-14 under Gerad Parker

• Troy is the only school to appear in multiple SBC Championship Games and have a winning record (2-1)

• Troy has 13 different players with a tackle for loss (6 with multiple TFLs) this season; there are 85 teams that collectively don't have 13 tackles for loss.

Troy University Athletics

Next Event

Related News

Related Videos