Daniel passed for a career-best 401 yards and ran for two scores and the Tigers got a big game from their suspect defense in a 41-6 victory over No 25 Nebraska on Saturday night.
``We played our 'A' game in a lot of facets,'' Daniel said. ``If our defense plays like that week-in and week-out and we keep scoring, the sky's the limit.''
Nebraska, which entered the game averaging 36 points, was held without a touchdown for the first time since a 31-3 loss to Oklahoma on Nov. 13, 2004. Missouri's four nonconference opponents averaged 25 points, leading to anticipation of a high-scoring affair that never materialized.
``I was so proud,'' coach Gary Pinkel said. ``It was as complete a game as we've played in a long time.''
The Cornhuskers were outgained 606-297. Quarterback Sam Keller, who was 25-for-43 with 223 yards and one interception, felt responsible.
``Extremely disappointing,'' Keller said. ``It's a horrible, horrible feeling, and I put all the blame on myself.''
Daniel was 33-for-47 and also was Missouri's rushing leader with 72 yards on 11 carries. Chase Coffman and Danario Alexander each caught a touchdown pass to help the Tigers (5-0, 1-0 Big 12) beat Nebraska decisively at home for the third straight time and go to 5-0 for a second straight season.
Pinkel is 2-15 against ranked opponents in seven seasons, both victories coming at home over Nebraska. The Cornhuskers were ranked 10th when Missouri ended a 24-game losing streak in the series with a 41-24 victory in 2003, and Missouri won by the same score in 2005.
A game viewed as a key early Big 12 North matchup attracted a crowd of 70,049, Missouri's first sellout since the Nebraska game in 2003 with most fans clad in yellow for a so-called ``Gold Rush'' game. The Tigers had a ball and even rubbed it in to their longtime nemesis, scoring a touchdown off a fake field goal early in the fourth quarter.
``I wish it was like that every game,'' Daniel said. ``It was an unbelievable atmosphere, unlike anything I've ever been in.''
Missouri put away Nebraska (4-2, 1-1) without leading rusher Tony Temple, who sprained his right ankle in the first half. Temple had one catch for 20 yards and three carries for minus-2 yards.
Marlon Lucky had 123 yards rushing and receiving for Nebraska, held to a pair of first-half field goals by Alex Henery. Nebraska had won eight in a row against Big 12 North opponents.
``It's not our standard of football,'' coach Bill Callahan said. ``We just couldn't get off the field on third down and we didn't convert on third down.''
Missouri led 14-0 in the first quarter and 20-6 at the half, a big change from last year's 34-20 loss at Lincoln, Neb., in which the Tigers trailed 27-3 in the second quarter. Nebraska capitalized on a pair of early interceptions off Daniel in that game.
Daniel set the tone from the start on Saturday, going 12-for-14 for 127 yards while leading Missouri to touchdowns on its first two drives. One of the incompletions came on a dropped ball.
