The 7 p.m. kickoff was over before sunset.

No. 11-ranked Missouri football hammered Murray State 51-0 in its season-opening game Thursday in Columbia, taking a three-touchdown lead within six minutes of game time and forcing three defensive turnovers before the reserves came in to close out the contest.

A sellout crowd arrived to watch the Tigers (1-0) on Faurot Field, and they weren’t made to wait for the fun to start.

Star wide receiver Luther Burden III slipped a tackle and high-stepped the first score of the season home after less than three minutes. New running backs Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll both ran in touchdowns, and cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. had a pick-six before the quarter was over.

Brady Cook was 19-of-30 for 218 yards and a touchdown in his two-and-a-half quarters of action. Drew Pyne took over the offense midway through the third quarter, as the Tigers turned to their second-team to close out the game.

The Tigers forced two defensive turnovers in addition to Pride’s pick, including a strip-sack from new defensive tackle Chris McClellan that was recovered by Joe Moore III.

Blake Craig was perfect in his first game as MU’s starting placekicker, converting all three of his field goal attempts and going 6-for-6 on PATs.

Fourth quarter

10:05 p.m.: Blake Craig should end this evening perfect, converting his third field goal — to pair with six PATs — of the night to make it Mizzou 51, Murray State 0. Less than two minutes to go now.

9:57 p.m.: Missouri is taking a timeout on third-and-goal from the 9 with 2:40 in the game. It's all reserves in the game now, including freshmen wide receivers James Madison II and Courtney Crutchfield.

9:53 p.m.: Freshman running back Kewan Lacy is in the game, and looking promising. He has taken five runs for 42 yards, helping the Tigers inside the 10.

9:36 p.m.: After a pair of backup running back Tavorus Jones's attempts came up short, Blake Craig comes on to the field and keeps his perfect night going with a 22-yard field goal. Missouri 48, Murray State 0.

End of third quarter: Missouri 45, Murray State 0

9:30 p.m.: Drew Pine is leading MU's backups on a really nice drive. The Tigers will start the fourth quarter with a second-and-goal play from the 3. It's currently an 11-play drive that started on MU's own 19.

9:14 p.m.: Touchdown Missouri. Jamal Roberts takes the handoff from Drew Pine and runs it in from 2 yards. That's the first score of his career. It's Mizzou 45, Murray State 0 with 7:09 left in the third quarter.

9:12 p.m.: Three plays into Murray State's series, and it's coming back to Mizzou — and inside the 15-yard line. Chris McClellan forced a third-down sack and fumble. Defensive end Eddie Kelly recovered. Looks like Drew Pine is coming in at quarterback for Mizzou, meaning Brady Cook's night is done.

9:06 p.m.: The first field goal attempt of Blake Craig's career is good from 39 yards. Mizzou 38, Murray State 0, with 8:50 to go in the third quarter.

9:01 p.m.: Nice moves from Mookie Cooper. The Tigers' third-and-7 from deep in their own half goes 49 yards after a nice juke from the wide receiver.

8:58 p.m.: The Racers go three-and-out, but a 58-yard punt pins the Mizzou offense inside its own 5. That might be Murray State's play of the day.

8:55 p.m.: Murray State receives the kickoff, and we are underway.

Half time: Missouri 35, Murray State 0

8:51 p.m.: Here are the first-half stats leaders for Mizzou.

Brady Cook was 16-of-25 for 144 yards and a touchdown. He ran for 22 yards and another score.

Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll have 42 and 35 rushing yards, respectively, and each punched one home. They've both feature in the passing game with 20 and 19 yards, respectively.

Luther Burden III has three catches for 39 yards; Theo Wease has three catches for 30 yards. Marquis Johnson has been targeted three times but Cook hasn't hit him yet.

Four MU players have TFLs: Corey Flagg; Triston Newson; Daylan Carnell and Khalil Jacobs.

8:28 p.m.: Touchdown Missouri, and a bold one. With five seconds on the gameclock and no timeouts, Brady Cook runs a keeper and falls across the goal line. Tigers up 35-0 heading into the half.

8:23 p.m.: After a slightly wide throw intended for Marquis Johnson, Brady Cook takes a 18-yard keeper inside the 20. That was the best example of his ability on the ground so far today, and a good read of the Racers' defense.

8:18 p.m.: It's two-minute warning time, which is new to college football this season. Mizzou has the ball with third-and-short on its own 40-yard line. One more chance, it seems, to make this something other than a scoreless second quarter.

8:11 p.m.: The offense has fallen a little flat. As we head into the final seven minutes of the second quarter, Missouri is 1-of-3 on third downs and has just 35 yards of second-period total offense. Good news for the Tigers: Murray State is going nowhere fast as the defense keeps bringing the heat.

Case and point: Miami transfer linebacker just blew up a third-down play in the backfield with some eye-opening speed.

8:02 p.m.: Murray State has been a non-factor on offense so far. That's another three-and-out for the Mizzou defense, which has 16 different players credited with a tackle already.

7:49 p.m.: Missouri tried to get tricky and ended up just fooling itself. Luther Burden fumbled, and the Racers have the ball, but there's more to it than that.

The offensive line went left outside the numbers and Burden followed. Cook was snapped the ball and Burden came round in a jet-sweep motion. Cook pitched it to him. Burden fumbled. Murray State ball. Doubt we'll see that play-call any time soon.

End of first quarter: Mizzou 28, Murray State 0

7:44 p.m.: Four touchdowns. Two defensive turnovers, including a pick-six. Blake Craig is perfect on PATs in his debut. That's the start you want if you're a Mizzou fan.

7:40 p.m.: As you'd expect out of this mismatch, the Mizzou defense has been utterly dominant. Khalil Jacobs gets a third-down sack to end another Racers drive shortly after it started. Missouri's third-and-long package there looked like it was essentially a 3-1-7 formation, which is something to keep an eye on.

7:33 p.m.: Touchdown Missouri. Marcus Carroll, in for his first series of the game, runs it in from a yard away completely untouched. Tigers are 3-for-3 in the red zone tonight, which should please OC Kirby Moore. Mizzou is up 28-0.

7:30 p.m.: Brady Cook tried to take the top off the Murray State offense from just inside his own half, and speedy wide receiver Marquis Johnson came a fingertip away from catching it on the goal line. That didn't go, but the Tigers are driving again.

7:19 p.m.: Touchdown Missouri. Cornerback Toriano Pride picks off a pass intended for a receiver in the flat and takes it home for a pick six. Mizzou 21, Murray State 0. There is 9:41 remaining in the first quarter.

7:14 p.m.: Touchdown Mizzou. Nate Noel, on his Missouri debut, runs it home from 9 yards. Blake Craig converts on the PAT again, and it's 14-0 Tigers.

7:11 p.m.: Can't accuse Murray State of not being bold. The Racers go for a fourth-and-short on their fourth play of the season, but get stuffed by the Mizzou line. Another short field, 35 yards this time, for the Tigers.

7:06 p.m.: Touchdown Missouri. That didn't take long. Brady Cook finds Luther Burden III in coverage, and the superstar wide receiver slips a tackle and high-steps into the end zone. Blake Craig converts the first PAT attempt of his MU career. Missouri 7, Murray State 0, 12:42 to go in the first quarter.

7:02 p.m.: Murray State attempts an onside kick to start the game. Mizzou recovered. A flag was thrown, but it's unclear what for. Missouri will begin with the ball on the Racers' 42. Football season is well and truly back.

Pregame updates for Missouri football vs. Murray State

7 p.m.: Mizzou wins the toss and elects to receive. Away we go. The next updates you get will be football ones, with the Missouri offense taking the field first.

6:59 p.m.: The Tigers have run out from the south end zone facility. Marching Mizzou is headed to the stands. Big Mo' has been banged (by former Missouri running back Tony Temple and 2024 NFL Draft fifth-round pick JC Carlies). Next up: The 2024 Mizzou football season.

6:39 p.m.: No surprises as the Tigers announced starters for tonight's game. Looks like Toriano Pride Jr. will be the first cornerback out alongside Dreyden Norwood, which was about the only lingering question. Elsewhere, it's who you'd expect for Mizzou.

6:38 p.m.: Just one player in street clothes for Missouri: backup cornerback Ja'Mariyon Wayne. Midweek, head coach Eli Drinkwitz said tight end Jordon Harris was questionable for tonight's game. He was dressed and warming up.

6:36 p.m.: Former Missouri kicker Harrison Mevis is in attendance for tonight's game. Among his first visitors on the sideline: His heir-apparent, redshirt freshman Blake Craig.

6:04 p.m.: Players ought to be coming out for warmups in the very near future. Headcount incoming, but as it stands there aren't any major expected absentees for the Tigers tonight.

5:46 p.m.: If you were wondering if the Tigers' team motto had changed this year ...

5:36 p.m.: Here come the fans. The gates are open at Memorial Stadium, and the keenest students have just filled up the first row of their section. Missouri athletics announced the game had sold out Wednesday.

5:31 p.m.: The 90-minute countdown to kickoff has begun on the new videoboard on Missouri's north concourse. Brady Cook and Luther Burden III spent some time playing pitch-and-catch on the Mizzou sideline, so if you had any worries, they are both here.

5:08 p.m.: Here is a peak at what Missouri will be wearing for its opening game of the season. The first few Mizzou players — mostly special teams members — have made their way out onto Faurot Field and are getting some early, outdoor warmup time.

5 p.m.: Missouri players and coaches have walked down the hill past the Stephens Indoor Facility and into Memorial Stadium, and we are two hours out from kickoff in Columbia.

All of our Missouri football coverage ahead of Week 1

We’ve been busy getting you best prepared to watch the Tigers in 2024. All of our game-week coverage of Missouri football is linked right here to tide you over until kickoff.

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How to watch Missouri football versus Murray State

TV Channel: SEC Network

Stream: FUBO (free trial)

Date: Thursday, Aug. 29

Time: 7 p.m. CDT

Missouri’s game against Murray State will kick off at 7 p.m. Thursday and will air live on SEC Network.

FUBO, which offers a free trial for potential subscribers, will stream the Tigers’ game against the Racers.

Watch Missouri football vs. Murray State free on FUBO

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This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football vs. Murray State score: Tigers pile on Racers in opener