What Is 1937 Missouri Tigers football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1937 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri during the 1937 college football season, finishing with a 5–5 record under head coach Don Faurot. They played in the Big Six Conference and achieved a notable 27–7 victory over Kansas in the annual Border War game.

Key Facts

The 1937 Missouri Tigers finished the season with a 5–5 overall record
Head coach Don Faurot was in his second year leading the team
Missouri played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Columbia
The team went 3–1 in Big Six Conference games
They defeated Kansas 27–7 in the 1937 Border War matchup

Overview

The 1937 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri in the 1937 college football season, marking the second year under head coach Don Faurot. Competing in the Big Six Conference, the team played a balanced schedule of regional and conference opponents, finishing with a .500 record.

The season reflected Missouri's growing football program during the late 1930s, as Faurot began implementing his innovative Split-T offensive formation. Though not yet dominant, the 1937 campaign laid groundwork for Missouri’s future success in the following decade.

Record: The Tigers finished the season with a 5–5 overall record, including a 3–1 mark in conference play, demonstrating competitive balance.
Head Coach:Don Faurot, in his second season, continued developing the program and experimenting with the Split-T offense that would later revolutionize college football.
Home Stadium: All home games were played at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri, a venue that opened in 1926 and held over 40,000 fans by the late 1930s.
Conference: Missouri competed in the Big Six Conference, the predecessor to the Big Eight and later the Big 12, featuring teams like Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.
Key Victory: A 27–7 win over Kansas in the annual Border War game stood out as a highlight, maintaining Missouri’s strong performance in the rivalry series.

Season Performance

The 1937 season showcased Missouri’s transition into a more modern offensive system, with early use of the Split-T formation under Faurot’s guidance. While the team struggled with consistency, several games demonstrated emerging offensive potential.

September 25: Missouri opened the season with a 20–0 win over Kansas State, signaling defensive strength and early momentum.
October 9: A 13–6 victory over Washington University highlighted solid ball control and field position management.
October 16: The Tigers suffered a 13–7 loss to Nebraska, a strong Big Six opponent that finished the season ranked.
October 30: A decisive 27–7 win over Kansas was fueled by a dominant second half and strong rushing performance.
November 13: Missouri lost 13–0 to Oklahoma, a game that exposed offensive limitations against top-tier conference defenses.
November 27: The season concluded with a 13–6 loss to Kansas State in the annual Thanksgiving game, ending the year at 5–5.

Comparison at a Glance

Missouri’s 1937 performance compared closely with regional rivals in terms of record and style of play. The following table outlines key season statistics:

Team	Overall Record	Conference Record	Key Result
Missouri	5–5	3–1	27–7 vs. Kansas
Kansas	5–3–1	2–2–1	Lost 27–7 to Missouri
Nebraska	5–5	3–2	Beat Missouri 13–7
Oklahoma	4–5–1	3–1–1	Beat Missouri 13–0
Kansas State	3–6	2–4	Lost twice to Missouri

The table illustrates that Missouri’s 5–5 record placed them mid-tier among Big Six teams. Their 3–1 conference record was among the best, though non-conference losses limited overall success. The win over Kansas remained a point of pride, maintaining dominance in the rivalry.

Why It Matters

The 1937 season was a transitional year that helped shape Missouri football’s future, particularly through the early use of Don Faurot’s Split-T offense. Though not a championship season, it contributed to long-term program development and regional competitiveness.

The season marked the early evolution of the Split-T offense, which would later become a cornerstone of Missouri’s 1940s success.
Missouri’s win over Kansas extended their rivalry series lead, reinforcing regional football pride.
Playing to a .500 record in Faurot’s second year showed program stability amid rebuilding efforts.
The team’s performance helped maintain fan engagement and stadium attendance during the Great Depression era.
Several players from the 1937 roster went on to become team leaders in 1938 and 1939, gaining experience this season.
The season laid groundwork for Missouri’s 1939 Big Six Championship, the program’s first since 1931.

The 1937 Missouri Tigers may not be remembered for a stellar record, but they played a crucial role in the program’s progression under one of its most influential coaches. Their season reflects the steady climb toward national prominence in the years that followed.