1972 Missouri Tigers football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1972
| team = Missouri Tigers
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Big Eight Conference
| short_conf = Big 8
| record = 6–6
| conf_record = 3–4
| head_coach = Al Onofrio
| hc_year = 2nd
| captain =
| stadium = Faurot Field
| bowl = Fiesta Bowl
| bowl_result = L 35–49 vs. Arizona State
}}
{{1972 Big Eight Conference football standings}}
The 1972 Missouri Tigers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Missouri in the Big Eight Conference (Big 8) during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. The team compiled a 6–6 record (3–4 against Big 8 opponents), finished in a tie for fourth place in the Big 8, and was outscored by opponents by a combined total of 311 to 219. Al Onofrio was the head coach for the second of seven seasons.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/missouri/1972-schedule.html|title=1972 Missouri Tigers Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=November 11, 2016}}{{cite web|title=2016 Mizzou Football Media Guide|publisher=University of Missouri|page=158|access-date=November 11, 2016|url=http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/mutigers.com/documents/2016/7/13/16_fb_media_guide.pdf}} The team played its home games at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri.
The team's statistical leaders included Tommy Reamon with 454 rushing yards, John Cherry with 861 passing yards and 1,094 yards of total offense, Jon Bastable with 362 receiving yards, and Greg Hill with 61 points scored.{{cite web|title=2014 Mizzou Football Records Book|publisher=University of Missouri|pages=26–27|access-date=November 11, 2016|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/miss/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/misc_non_event/14-records-book.pdf|archive-date=September 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928041623/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/miss/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/misc_non_event/14-records-book.pdf|url-status=dead}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1972
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 9
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Oregon
| site_stadium = Faurot Field
| site_cityst = Columbia, MO
| score = 24–22
| attend = 41,236
| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qt1VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LuEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4791%2C2165082 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon)|last=Conrad |first=John |title=Last-second field goal kills Ducks as Missouri gains 24-22 victory |date=September 10, 1972 |page=1B}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ooxfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mzAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4270%2C2047521|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Oregon nipped |date=September 10, 1972 |page=13}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 23
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Baylor
| site_stadium = Faurot Field
| site_cityst = Columbia, MO
| score = 0–27
| attend = 42,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-lowly-baylor-surpri/169010824/|work=The Kansas City Star|title=Lowly Baylor surprises Mizzou, 27–0|date=September 24, 1972|accessdate=March 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 30
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = California
| site_stadium = Faurot Field
| site_cityst = Columbia, MO
| score = 34–27
| attend = 41,000
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 7
| time =
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Oklahoma State
| site_stadium = Lewis Field
| site_cityst = Stillwater, OK
| score = 16–17
| attend =
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 14
| time =
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Nebraska
| opprank = 6
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Lincoln, NE
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 0–62
| attend = 76,511
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 21
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Notre Dame
| opprank = 8
| site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium
| site_cityst = South Bend, IN
| score = 30–26
| attend = 59,075
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 28
| time =
| w/l = w
| opponent = Colorado
| opprank = 7
| site_stadium = Faurot Field
| site_cityst = Columbia, MO
| score = 20–17
| attend = 55,550
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 4
| time =
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 16
| opponent = Kansas State
| site_stadium = KSU Stadium
| site_cityst = Manhattan, KS
| score = 31–14
| attend = 37,500
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 11
| time =
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 14
| opponent = Oklahoma
| opprank = 7
| site_stadium = Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Norman, OK
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 6–17
| attend = 62,267
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 18
| time =
| w/l = w
| rank = 19
| opponent = Iowa State
| opprank = 12
| site_stadium = Faurot Field
| site_cityst = Columbia, MO
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 6–5
| attend = 43,718
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 25
| time =
| w/l = l
| rank = 16
| opponent = Kansas
| site_stadium = Faurot Field
| site_cityst = Columbia, MO
| gamename = Border War
| score = 17–28
| attend = 44,428
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 23
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| neutral = y
| opponent = Arizona State
| opprank = 15
| site_stadium = Sun Devil Stadium
| site_cityst = Tempe, AZ
| gamename = Fiesta Bowl
| score = 35–49
| attend = 51,318
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-arizona-state-gree/156786110/|work=The Kansas City Star|title=Arizona State, Green too much for Tigers|date=December 24, 1972|accessdate=October 8, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}