Nothing was going to stop Brady Cook on Missouri’s homecoming weekend. Not an ankle injury, and certainly not a trip to the hospital.
During a crucial game against Auburn, the Tigers’ senior quarterback left the field for an MRI exam. Despite the setback, he returned late in the third quarter, rallying his team from a 17-6 deficit. Cook skillfully directed two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, leading to a thrilling 21-17 comeback victory.
“I came back, and I just knew we weren’t going to lose this game. Not on homecoming. Not today,” Cook passionately stated to the SEC Network after the win.
Cook expressed his deep connection to Mizzou, saying, “To come out here and get hurt on the first drive, to think I might not return, then to find a way to manifest this win… I’m just emotional right now.”
The injury occurred during the game’s opening series. After his hospital visit, Cook underwent a test at the indoor practice facility to assess his ankle’s condition.
“It was a long hour and a half. I didn’t think I would get back in the game. My equipment was off,” he recalled. “But I realized I had limited time left to play at Faurot Field, and we had to find a way.”
Missouri’s head coach, Eli Drinkwitz, was visibly moved by Cook’s determination. “For him to put his body on the line is incredible and should inspire everyone who watched,” Drinkwitz remarked.
Chase Daniel, a former Mizzou quarterback and co-host of The Facility on FS1, praised Cook’s resilience.
The comeback started with a remarkable 72-yard pass from Cook to Theo Wease Jr., setting the stage for a touchdown run by Marcus Carroll. With time running out, Cook orchestrated a drive that kept Missouri’s College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Starting at his own 5-yard line with just over four minutes remaining, Cook ran on his injured ankle to convert a crucial third down. He then connected with Luther Burden III on a fourth-and-5 for another first down. Cook found Wease again on third-and-10, setting up Jamal Roberts’ go-ahead touchdown with just 46 seconds left.
“He could have easily sat out and watched,” said Roberts, who stepped up in place of the injured Nate Noel. “His determination showed the brotherhood we have here.”
Cook finished with 194 passing yards in less than two quarters. This victory improved Missouri’s record to 6-1, making them bowl eligible for the fourth consecutive season.
“On homecoming, to end like this, it means everything,” Cook told KMOV, expressing his pride while pounding his chest.
“I decided nothing was going to stop me from coming back. I knew I had three games left in Faurot to play for these fans, and I wasn’t going to waste it,” he added.
While Cook was in the hospital, he was unaware of the game’s developments, as cellphones were not allowed. However, he knew his team needed him, and the training staff worked diligently to get him back on the field in time.
“I wasn’t going to leave this game unfinished,” Cook declared. “Mizzou deserves it.”
