After defeating nationally ranked rival Illinois in a raucous bowl game environment, the No. 6 Tigers take on an entirely new challenge this week: getting themselves up for a less celebrated opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision ranks.

Tigers coach Gary Pinkel winced at the thought of his team taking Southeast Missouri State lightly.

"I don't care who we play," he said, referring to Saturday's home opener at Memorial Stadium. "It wasn't about Illinois. It was about Missouri. Our offense, our defense."

They'll both be on display in Columbia for the first time this season, though some integral pieces might be missing. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and free safety William Moore are both listed as probable to play against SEMO (1-0) after sustaining ankle and foot injuries, respectively, against Illinois. Neither injury is considered serious, but it might be in MU's best interest to let their potential All-Americans spend more time on the sideline than a normal week.

"There's a lot of guys on SEMO's team who probably have a chip on their shoulder that they weren't recruited by Mizzou," MU outside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said. "They're going to be ready to play us. We just have to get focused and prepare like it's the Big 12 championship game."

In light of the 52-42 victory over No. 20 Illinois, the Tigers' lofty expectations for the season were put on full display. Pinkel noticed a bittersweet celebration on the field at the Edward Jones Dome last Saturday and sensed a locker room full of players who know they're capable of winning more impressively. This week, with a FCS team coming to town, Pinkel would like to be in position to rest some of his starters, but knows that's a luxury, not an inevitability.

"First of all, I'd like to have that problem. No. 2, I've been doing this a long time, and you just got to use good judgment," he said. "You always want to get players in to play. Players prove they can play by the way they practice. That's how we do it here. If you're fortunate to get a lead, in the fourth quarter there's a decision you have to make."

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