Boos to the books: Record-breaking Brady Cook shines again for unbeaten Mizzou football

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Three unbeaten teams remain in the Southeastern Conference through Week 5.

Georgia, naturally.

Kentucky — sure.

And after Mizzou football soared to a 38-21 win over Vanderbilt on Saturday in its SEC opener behind another career-best night by its quarterback, team No. 3 is the 5-0 Tigers.

Wondering where that came from?

Try the rise of Brady Cook, who in a matter of three games has gone from being booed to the record books.

When his 19th pass of the day against the Commodores didn’t end up in opposition arms, (freshman Marquis Johnson caught it), Cook had gone 326 passes without throwing a pick. The last time he was intercepted was Oct. 22, 2022, at home against … Vanderbilt.

Pass No. 326 broke former Kentucky QB Andre Woodson’s record set in 2007.

“I saw a tweet or something about it,” Cook said postgame. … “I was like, ‘Hopefully not this game.’ Yeah, that's cool. I think interceptions are a part of the game, obviously I'll probably throw interceptions this year. So I'm not too worried about it. Just trying to do the best I can.”

Cook’s “best” has been getting better and better.

The quarterback saved his record-breaking day for a fitting afternoon. Cook’s statline versus Vanderbilt (2-4, 0-2 SEC) was the most complete of the Missouri career:

He had 395 yards — a career high.

He threw for four touchdowns — a career high.

He completed 33 passes — a career high.

Of those, 80% (33 of 41) were completed. That one falls to second on his all-time list.

Yeah, that’ll do.

Cook didn’t change the tone up now that the team is unbeaten heading into October under his watch. The same reasons for wins Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 — film study, building chemistry, etc., etc. — were credited for win No. 5.

The rise has also been keeping healthy, which he has just about managed.

Cook said he spoke to former Missouri QB James Franklin about learning to protect his body. He’s been listed as questionable on the injury report for the past two weeks for a knee injury completely unrelated to his offseason surgery, after all.

He even slid a couple times in Nashville, something that hasn’t been in his wheelhouse over his previous 18 games as MU’s starter.

“I just (asked), ‘hey, like, how do you protect yourself out there?’’ Cook said. “Because when you have the ball in your hand and the games on the line, all you want to do is score, get the first down, put it all on the line. And he gave me some pointers, and I'm glad I slid because I feel great.”

Even through the batterings and bruisings and boos, the only way has been up for the quarterback lately.

Against Vandy, he hit a new high.

The Tigers were methodical for most of the game on offense, rarely subjecting themselves to tricky third downs, but keeping drives alive five of the 10 times they did.

When there were open looks — and there were more than enough — Cook took them.

There was the 44-yard bomb to Johnson in the fourth quarter, followed by a game-clinching drop right on top of Luther Burden III, who ended the day with 140 receiving yards — a fourth-straight 100-yard game.

On the first drive of the half, Cook handed Burden his first touchdown of the game by placing a throw in the perfect spot for the receiver on a fade route. In the first half, he high-pointed Wease on the left sideline for the Tigers’ first touchdown of the game and one of the big wide receiver’s season-high 10 catches on the day.

Cook was clinical when the time came calling.

“We talked about being a smart, disciplined decision-maker, and that's really the hallmark of a good quarterback,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “He's playing smart, not conservative. When the ball needs to go deep, he's able to hit those deep balls. When he needs to take some check downs, he's done that, and just hasn't put the ball in jeopardy very much. It'll happen at some point, but, you know, so far so good.”

He now has three straight 300+-yard outings. He’s up to 11 passing touchdowns this season, which trails only LSU’s Jayden Daniels — Missouri’s next opponent.

Two weeks ago, there were boos in Columbia when his name was announced as starter against Kansas State.

Don’t expect many of those against LSU next Saturday from the sellout crowd in Columbia.

“Yeah, it's been a big change, I'd say,” Cook said. “I mean, it's awesome. It's very cool, I feel supported. It gives me confidence, and I think it gives the offense confidence.”

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Boos to the books: Record-breaking Brady Cook shines again for unbeaten Mizzou