What Is 1989 Missouri Tigers football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1989 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri in the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season, finishing with a 5–6 overall record under head coach Bob Stull. They competed in the Big Eight Conference and played their home games at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri.

Key Facts

The 1989 Missouri Tigers finished with a 5–6 overall record
They played in the Big Eight Conference and went 2–5 in conference play
Head coach Bob Stull was in his second season leading the team
The team played home games at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri
Quarterback Jeff Christensen started most games and threw for 1,821 yards

Overview

The 1989 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. Competing in the Big Eight Conference, the team was led by head coach Bob Stull, who was in his second year at the helm. The Tigers played their home games at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri, a venue with a long-standing tradition in college football.

This season marked a transitional period for the program as Missouri sought to build consistency after a challenging 1988 campaign. Despite some offensive improvements, the team struggled with consistency on defense and finished with a losing record. Nevertheless, several young players gained valuable experience that would shape future seasons.

Record: The team finished the season with a 5–6 overall record, failing to qualify for a bowl game for the second consecutive year under Stull.
Conference play: In the Big Eight Conference, Missouri went 2–5, defeating only Kansas and Iowa State while losing to rivals like Oklahoma and Nebraska.
Head coach:Bob Stull entered his second season and continued to implement an aggressive offensive system aimed at modernizing the Tigers’ approach.
Home stadium: All home games were played at Faurot Field, which had a seating capacity of approximately 62,000 at the time.
Quarterback:Jeff Christensen started most games and led the team with 1,821 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, marking a key offensive bright spot.

Season Performance

The 1989 season was defined by narrow losses and missed opportunities, as Missouri played in several close games but failed to secure victories. The team showed flashes of potential, particularly on offense, but defensive lapses in key moments proved costly throughout the schedule.

Season opener: Missouri defeated Central Florida 48–14 in the season opener, showcasing a high-powered offense early in the year.
Key loss: A 31–30 defeat to Oklahoma State in October was a turning point, as the Tigers blew a late lead and lost on a last-minute field goal.
Rivalry game: The annual Border War against Kansas ended in a 34–3 victory, one of the few dominant performances of the season.
Defensive struggles: The Tigers allowed 28.5 points per game, ranking near the bottom of the Big Eight in defensive efficiency.
Running game:Todd Smith led the team with 612 rushing yards and five touchdowns, providing a reliable ground attack.
Season finale: Missouri closed the year with a 24–21 loss to Colorado, finishing just one game below .500.

Comparison at a Glance

Missouri’s 1989 performance can be better understood when compared to previous and subsequent seasons under Bob Stull. The table below outlines key statistical trends across three seasons.

Season	Overall Record	Conference Record	Passing Yards	Rushing Yards	Head Coach
1987	4–7	2–5	1,520	1,801	Woody Widenhofer
1988	3–8	2–5	1,670	1,745	Bob Stull
1989	5–6	2–5	1,821	1,903	Bob Stull
1990	3–8	2–5	1,744	1,850	Bob Stull
1991	5–6	3–4	1,902	1,788	Bob Stull

The data shows that while Missouri improved slightly in total yardage and overall wins from 1988 to 1989, the team remained inconsistent in conference play. The 1989 season represented a modest step forward in offensive production but highlighted the need for defensive improvement and greater resilience in close games.

Why It Matters

The 1989 Missouri Tigers season is notable as a transitional chapter in the program’s late-1980s rebuilding effort. While not a winning season, it provided foundational experience for younger players and signaled the direction Bob Stull wanted to take the team offensively.

Program development: The season helped lay the groundwork for future recruiting classes and system implementation under Stull’s leadership.
Offensive evolution: Missouri’s shift toward a more pass-friendly offense was evident, with Jeff Christensen becoming the first Tigers QB to surpass 1,800 yards since 1984.
Stadium legacy: Games at Faurot Field continued to draw strong regional interest, maintaining fan engagement despite losing records.
Player development: Several underclassmen, including future starters, gained crucial game experience during the 1989 campaign.
Conference context: Competing in the tough Big Eight meant every loss was against high-caliber competition, which helped prepare the team for future challenges.
Historical significance: The 1989 season is remembered as a year of incremental progress, setting the stage for a more competitive 1991 team that also went 5–6.

Though overshadowed by more successful Missouri teams in other eras, the 1989 Tigers played a role in the long-term development of the program. Their efforts contributed to a culture of improvement that would eventually lead to greater achievements in the 1990s and beyond.