Vanderbilt looked poised to have a decent year after opening the season with wins over Virginia Tech and Alcorn State, but a loss to Georgia State last week reminded the country that the Commodores should still be considered an easy win for other SEC teams.

It wasn’t an easy win for Mizzou, as the Tigers struggled to contain Vandy and couldn’t really get going on offense.

The narrow victory also marked the second straight week that Missouri has struggled against a manageable opponent. The Tigers defeated 24th-ranked Boston College by just one touchdown last week.

Missouri was a contender in the SEC last year, losing only to LSU and Georgia. Much of that success, however, was due to star player Cody Schrader, who left for the NFL.

The Tigers still have strong players like receiver Luther Burden and veteran quarterback Brady Cook, but Saturday showed that Missouri may have taken a step back this season.

Next week’s game against No. 25 Texas A&M will be a good indicator of whether Missouri’s scare against Vanderbilt was just a fluke or if the Tigers are headed for a down year. If Mizzou can pull out a win in College Station, fans will likely reevaluate how they view the Tigers.