Their reputation bruised, their pride battered, Gary Pinkel’s Missouri Tigers discovered the most soothing remedy for their two-game losing streak: a return to Big 12 North Division play.

Missouri’s previously toothless defense, last seen getting trampled in Austin, Texas, pitched its first conference shutout in more than 20 years last night, blanking Colorado 58-0 on Faurot Field.

In front of a sold-out crowd of 68,349, the Tigers snapped college football’s third-longest active scoring streak, thanks to one last defensive stand in the closing seconds. Colorado had scored points in 242 straights games since a 7-0 loss at Nebraska on Nov. 12, 1988. Only Michigan (296) and Florida (250) have longer active streaks.

Apparently, the No. 16 Tigers (6-2, 2-2 Big 12) took to heart Pinkel’s week-long mantra that nothing mattered other than “5:30 on Saturday,” a blatant reference to last night’s kickoff time and an implicit nod to last week’s listless play at Texas.

Missouri’s offense was as sharp from the start as it was lifeless last Saturday in Austin. Looking more like the quarterback who topped the Heisman Trophy polls earlier this month, Chase Daniel led scoring drives on 9 of MU’s first 11 possessions, and for all but one series again rendered punter Jake Harry to spectator status. The running game wasn’t overpowering but effective enough to move the chains, while Daniel worked around a second-quarter interception to shred the Buffaloes (4-4, 1-3 for 302 yards and five touchdowns.

Perhaps most encouraging for Missouri, the defense showed its teeth, albeit against a hapless Colorado offense with serious offensive line issues and a quarterback rotation that stalled with both passer under center. Unlike last week’s 56-31 drubbing at Texas, the Tigers set the tone early with first-half possessions that ended punt, punt, punt, punt, turnover and punt.

After opening last week’s debacle at Texas with four straight punts, the Tigers needed only four plays to reach the end zone last night. A play after Jeremy Maclin hauled in a 35-yard pass down the left seam, Derrick Washington scored on a 3-yard run, giving MU its first lead since the third quarter of its loss to Oklahoma State two weeks ago.

On CU’s opening drive, Buffs punter Tom Suazo lost the handle on a snap deep in his own territory and MU’s Brian Coulter dropped for a loss down to the 5. On third-and-goal from the 1, Chase Coffman made a one-handed grab in the back of the end zone on Daniel’s jump pass.

The Tigers added two more first-half touchdowns on methodical drives, using 5:10 to cover 55 yards on 13 plays for the first score, a 3-yard Daniel-to- Maclin touchdown pass. It was the second-longest scoring drive of the season for the Tigers.

Later in the second quarter, Daniel led a 15-play, 80-yard drive that ended with his 10-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Saunders, who was MU’s designated player to wear No. 25 in honor of deceased teammate Aaron O’Neal.

On CU’s ensuing possession, Missouri defensive end Stryker Sulak sacked and stripped Cody Hawkins, giving the ball back to Missouri’s offense. The Tigers capped the first half with two field goals from 23 and 44 yards.

The second half was more domination from the Tigers. Despite needing a Harry punt to begin the third quarter, the Tigers extended their lead with Daniel touchdown passes to Danario Alexander (10 yards) and Maclin (30), building a 48-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Tigers capped the scoring in the fourth quarter with Wolfert’s third field goal of the night, a 45-yarder, and De’Vion Moore’s 55-yard touchdown run.

With MU’s defensive starters back in the game to preserve the shutout, the Buffaloes reached the Tigers’ 11-yard line, but Sean Weatherspoon tackled receiver Josh Smith as time expired.

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