COLUMBIA, Mo. — Call it a test if you want to.
Missouri football opens its 2023 season Thursday against South Dakota, a program from the Football Championship Subdivision, the Division I level below the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The Tigers are 20-0 against FCS opponents, most recently beating Abilene Christian 34-17 last season. On a platter as potential win No. 21 will be the Coyotes, a team that went 3-8 last season.
South Dakota plays in the dense Missouri Valley Football Conference that includes FCS heavyweights like South Dakota State and North Dakota State. The Coyotes played one FBS opponent last year, losing 34-0 to Kansas State, which also defeated Missouri.