Sources: Mizzou likely without Cook for OU clash

• Pete Thamel, ESPNNov 8, 2024, 06:55 PM ET

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  College Football Senior Writer for ESPN. Insider for College Gameday.

No. 24 Missouri is expected to be without starting quarterback Brady Cook against visiting Oklahoma on Saturday night, sources told ESPN on Friday.

Cook is dealing with both an ankle and a wrist injury, as he has exited Missouri’s past two games while dealing with injuries.

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The missed game for Cook would mean the end of a streak of 35 consecutive starts, which includes every game of the 2024, 2023 and 2022 seasons.

Veteran backup Drew Pyne is set to start in place of Cook. He is 8-3 in his career as a starter, which covers both his time at Notre Dame and Arizona State.

Pyne struggled in place of Cook at Alabama in Missouri’s last game, throwing three interceptions while completing 6 of 12 passes for 42 yards. In place of Cook against Auburn, Pyne completed 10 of 21 passes for 78 yards.

Cook has thrown for 1,575 yards and seven touchdowns this year. In his career, he’s thrown for 8,048 yards and 45 touchdowns.

He played valiantly in a comeback win over Auburn, returning from the hospital to lead a second-half comeback.

The news of Cook’s absence is softened slightly be the return of starting tailback Nate Noel, sources said. He missed the Alabama game while dealing with a foot injury. Noel rushed for 503 yards this season and averages 5.9 yards per carry.

247Sports.com first reported that Cook would sit out Saturday’s game.