Missouri Tigers football The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in the sport of American football . The Tigers compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision ( FBS ) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) and have been members of the Big 12 Conference since the conference ' s inception in 1996 . The university and its sports teams will join the Southeastern Conference ( SEC ) in July 2012 . The team plays home games at Faurot Field , also known as " The Zou " , in Columbia , Missouri . As of 2011 , the Tigers have competed in the most overtime college football games , totalling 14 . Source Championships . The Missouri Tigers have 15 conference championships and 3 conference division titles . Divisional championships ( 3 ) . ( * ) Indicates a co - championship ( Tie for first ) . < br > ( * * ) The 1960 championship was retroactively awarded , after a loss to Kansas was reversed due to Kansas ' use of a player later ruled to be ineligible . Bowl appearances ( 29 ) . The Tigers have a 13 - 16 Bowl Record . They have appeared in the Orange Bowl , Sugar Bowl , Fiesta Bowl , Cotton Bowl Classic , Gator Bowl , Sun Bowl , Tangerine Bowl ( now known as the Capital One Bowl ) , Holiday Bowl , Liberty Bowl , Independence Bowl , Alamo Bowl , Insight Bowl , Texas Bowl , All - American Bowl and the Bluebonnet Bowl . Year - by - year record since 1950 . TOTAL 353 - 225 - 18 ( . 610 from 1950 ; incl . 8 - 5 - 0 through Dec . 26 , 2011 ) < br > TOTAL 630 - 520 - 52 ( . 547 from 1890 ; incl . 8 - 5 - 0 through Dec . 26 , 2011 ) Warren Seitz College Football Hall of Fame . Missouri boasts 12 inductees into the College Football Hall of Fame : Pro Football Hall of Fame . Two Missouri players have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame : Nickname . The nickname " Tigers , " given to Mizzou ' s athletic teams , traces its origin to the Civil War period . At that time , plundering guerilla bands habitually raided small towns , and Columbia people constantly feared an attack . Such organizations as temporary " home guards " and vigilance companies banded together to fight off any possible forays . The town ' s preparedness discouraged any guerilla activity and the protecting organization began to disband in 1854 . However , it was rumored that a guerilla band , led by the notorious Bill Anderson , intended to sack the town . Quickly organized was an armed guard of Columbia citizens , who built a blockhouse and fortified the old courthouse in the center of town . This company was called " The Missouri Tigers . " The marauders never came . The reputation of the intrepid " Tigers " presumably traveled abroad , and Anderson ' s gang detoured around Columbia . Soon after Missouri ' s first football team was organized in 1890 , the athletic committee adopted the nickname " Tiger " in official recognition of those Civil War defenders . Mascot . Truman the Tiger was introduced as the school ' s mascot against the Utah State Aggies in 1986 , receiving his name from former president Harry S Truman . Truman has been named the " Nation ' s Best Mascot " three times since 1986 , most recently in 2004 . Homecoming . The NCAA , as well as Jeopardy ! and Trivial Pursuit , all recognize Missouri as the school that invented and hosted the first Homecoming in 1911 , an event that has developed into a national ritual .