MORGANTOWN, W.Va. _ Barry Odom will have good days as Missouri's football coach.
His inaugural game Saturday at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium _ a 26-11 loss to West Virginia _ wasn't one of them.
Odom inherited a Tigers squad that struggled on offense last season and the early returns under new offensive coordinator Josh Heupel were only moderately encouraging.
Missouri (0-1) total 462 yards, which was more than any game last season, but still averaged a meager 3.8 yards per carry, and was dominated in time of possession.
The lone touchdown came with 1 minute, 49 seconds remaining and the outcome decided, but there were positive signs from sophomore quarterback Drew Lock despite the overall struggles.
The Tigers' up-tempo approach also might have played in role in wearing down a defense that was gashed for 494 total yards.
Perhaps that was the most alarming development against the Mountaineers.
Missouri fans watched the offense and special teams struggle last season, but the defense was dynamite.
Only one team _ Mississippi State, which racked up 430 yards in an early-November monsoon _ rolled up more than 370 yards in any game against the Tigers last season.
West Virginia piled up 241 yards on the ground and averaged 5.0 yards per carry led by reigning national junior college player of the year Justin Crawford _ a junior running back, who finished with 21 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown.
Senior quarterback Skyler Howard gouged a pass defense that failed to record a sack for 253 yards, completing 23 of 35 passes to lead a lopsided win.
More alarming, West Virginia did it all with an offensive line that was missing two starters for most of the game.
Starting left guard Adam Pankey was suspended and starting left tackle Yodny Cajuste left in the first half with a knee injury.
The warning signs were there early.
West Virginia marched 60 yards on an 11-play first-quarter drive, reaching the Mizzou 2-yard line before senior linebacker Michael Scherer stuffed Skyler Howard on a third-down quarterback draw.
The Mountaineers settled for a 19-yard Mike Molina field goal and an early 3-0 lead. He would add a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter and field goals of 21 and 33 yards in the second half.
Beginning its third drive, sophomore Marvin Zanders breathed life into the Tigers' offense with a 21-yard quarterback keeper on the first play before penalties stalled the drive.
Mizzou used a sub-heavy defense after a Corey Fatony punt and West Virginia marched 88 yards for the game's first touchdown, a 23-yard run up the gut senior Rushel Shell.
Early in the second quarter, the Tigers started to establish some rhythm on offense, but freshman running back Damarea Crockett's fumble short-circuited a promising drive at the Mountaineers' 24-yard line.
Howard, who left the game in the second quarter but returned for the second half, led another lengthy scoring drive for a 13-0 lead.
Despite the miscue, sophomore quarterback Drew Lock and Mizzou's offense continued building momentum.
Lock, who was 8-of-14 for 141 yards in the second quarter, lobbed a 42-yard completion down the home sideline during a nine-play, 68-yard drive capped by freshman Tucker McCann's 24-yard field goal.
The Tigers then forced a three-and-out, but a 10-play drive fizzled at the Mountaineers' 37.
Missouri caught a huge break when Howard's replacement, sophomore William Crest Jr., fumbled as he cocked his arm for a pass.
Junior defensive end Marcell Frazier pounced on the ball at the West Virginia 7-yard line, but two runs for no gain and an incomplete fade to redshirt freshman Justin Smith brought McCann back out for another 24-yard field goal _ which he shanked.
Halftime zapped any lingering momentum for the Tigers.
West Virginia shredded Mizzou's defense on the opening drive of the second half, going 70 yards on eight plays as missed tackles and missed assignments piled up.
When junior running back Justin Crawford plowed into the end zone on a 1-yard run, the Mountaineers' 20-3 lead seemed an impossible summit for the Tigers to reach.
Missouri also failed to capitalize after junior safety Anthony Sherrils' second-quarter interception and senior cornerback Aarion Penton's third-quarter pick.
The Tigers salvaged some respectability with Lock's 8-yard touchdown to Chris Black in the closing minutes, but it was far too little and too late.
