Missouri
2024 Missouri Football Early Opponent Preview, Game 1: Murray State
Less than a 100 sunsets from now, fans will be filing into Faurot Field again to celebrate the beginning of another Missouri football season.
Season openers against non-conference opponents are not usually the most enthralling of football matchups but act as the important ribbon cutting ceremony for another fall season.
This year for Missouri, Murray State will be making the trek to Columbia on Thursday, August 29. This will be only the second time in history that the Tigers and the Racers meet on the football field, the only other time being a 58-14 win by the James Franklin led Tigers in 2013.
The Racers’ head coach, however, is familaar with the SEC. Jody Wright, who was introduced as Murray’s State’s new head coach this January, has had two stints on SEC coaching staffs. Most recently, Wright was South Carolina’s tight ends coach in 2022 and 2023. He was also a graduate assistant in 2010 and an offensive assistant from 2011-’12 under Nick Saban at Alabama.
The Racers struggled in 2023, their first year in the Missouri Valley Conference, finishing 2-9. But Wright has revamped the roster with plenty of new additions through the transfer portal from FBS schools. Wiill it be enough to challenge the Tigers in August? Here’s an early look at the 2024 Racers.
In Murray State’s first year in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Racers ranked No. 10 out of 12 with 1,270 total offensive yards. The offense for 2024 will have a much different look.
The unit’s transfer portal additions is headlined by former Louisiana Monroe signee, quarterback Jim Ogle. Ogle was a three-star quarterback out of Jacksonville, Alabama and was originally committed to Troy before flipping to Louisiana Monroe in December of 2023.
The most experienced quarterback for the Racers is Isaac McNamee, entering his third year. The three-star recruit started against Ball State in his freshman year of 2022, going 7-for-22 for 57 yards.
The Racers also bolstered their pass catching corps through the portal with Willie Gaines from Colorado, Rykin Maxwell from James Madison and J’Kalon Carter from North Texas.
Murray State will be the fifth school for Gaines, a three-star rated transfer. He caught 27 receptions for 446 yards and five touchdowns in 2022 at Jackson State.
Of course, just as the transfer portal giveth, the transfer portal taketh away. All-American Third Team tight end Cole Rusk, the Racers’ leading receiver in 2023 with 507 yards, transferred to Illinois.
Defense
The Racers’ defense ranked No. 11 out of 12 last year in both yards allowed (4,713) and points (383).
Just like the offense though, there will be plenty of new faces attempting to turn the unit around.
The secondary oversaw the most extreme makeover, with newcomers from Louisville, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Tech and Coastal Carolina. Amari Wansley from Florida Atlantic, a three-star recruit, and Shavarick Williams from Louisville will lead the safety room. Trelon Slade, a cornerback from Coastal Carolina, brings experience after playing in nine games in 2023.
The defensive line added two players from Middle Tennessee State with Tyrece Edwards and Vincent Dinkins. Edwards, a defensive tackle, appeared in 11 games last year and recorded seven tackles for the Blue Raiders. Dinkins is coming off of an injury that caused him to miss all of the 2023 season.
Staying with the front seven, linebackers Kamron Robinson from New Mexico and Tyson Meguiez from Georgia Tech transferred to Murray State. Meguiez, a three-star prospect, appeared in 28 games over four years with Georgia Tech.
Team Outlook
A competitive, close match would be considered a win for the Murray State program. Playing on the same stage as a SEC team is a significant opportunity for any FCS school, even if they are only the sacrificial lamb.
That was the case for Murray State’s last SEC matchup, a 63-17 blowout loss to Georgia in Athens. The Racers have two SEC matchups on the schedule this year with Missouri in week 1 and Kentucky in week 6.
Date: Aug. 29
Time: 8 p.m.
TV: SEC Network
Location: Faurot Field
Series: Missouri leads 1-0
Head Coach: Jody Wright, formerly the tight ends coach at South Carolina
Offensive Coordinators: Adam Ross and Jimmy Ogle
Defensive Coordinator: Ryan Smith
2023 Record: 2-9, 1-7 in MVC
Coaching Changes Since 2000: Six
Last Conference Championship: Ohio Valley – 2002
Conference Championships: Eight
Meet the Transfer: Georgia Tech Defensive End Eddie Kelly
Kickoff Times Revealed for Two of Missouri’s 2024 Home Games
Meet the Transfer: Clemson Cornerback Torriano Pride Jr.
Summary:
- Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments on constitutionality of airport property tax valuation statute.
- Case involves valuation of Marriott hotel at Kansas City International Airport.
- Platte County assessor argues statute creates special tax advantage for airport properties.
- Missouri State Tax Commission reduced hotel’s valuation from $13.45 million to about $6.14 million.
The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Feb. 10 in a case challenging how a hotel at Kansas City International Airport was valued for property tax purposes and whether a state statute allowing deductions for airport property improvements is constitutional.
The dispute centers on the valuation of the Marriott Hotel located at Kansas City International Airport and whether a provision in Section 137.115.1 of state law improperly reduces the taxable value of certain airport properties.
At issue is a challenge by the Platte County assessor and the Park Hill School District to a decision by the Missouri State Tax Commission that resulted in a lower valuation for the 2016 tax year.
The assessor was represented during arguments by Stephen E. Magers, an attorney for Platte County in Platte City; Grady Hotel Investments was represented by Peter A. Corsale of McCarthy, Leonard & Kaemmerer in Town & Country.
Magers argued the statute effectively creates a special class of property that receives favorable tax treatment.
“This case concerns a truly novel item of the Missouri statutes,” he said. “It stands alone as the only statute within the entirety of the Missouri framework that gives a certain set of taxpayers a tax advantage of having real property located within an airport receive a deduction for new construction and improvements.”
The property at issue is a Marriott hotel located on land owned by Kansas City within the boundaries of Kansas City International Airport. The city leases the land to a private operator.
In 2015, Grady Hotel Investments purchased the prior operator’s interest in the property for about $8.5 million. As part of the transaction, Grady entered into an amended lease and concession agreement with the city and committed to making capital improvements to repair and renovate the property.
For the 2016 tax year, the Platte County assessor valued Grady’s interest in the hotel at approximately $13.45 million. After the county board of equalization upheld that valuation, Grady appealed to the Missouri State Tax Commission.
The commission initially set the hotel’s assessed value at zero using the “bonus value” methodology for leasehold interests, but the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District later reversed that ruling and remanded the case. On remand, the commission ultimately determined the hotel’s “true value in money” was about $6.14 million. The commission reached that figure after deducting the value of personal property included in the purchase and approximately $1.2 million in costs paid toward new construction and improvements made after 2008, as permitted under Section 137.115.1.
Magers argued that the statute operates as an unconstitutional tax break for properties located within airport boundaries.
“At its core, what the statute does is create a special kind of property that receives a reduction to its value based on new construction and improvements spent toward such possessory interests in real property,” said Magers.
He also said the provision treats airport properties differently from other commercial properties.
“A homeowner doesn’t get a reduction to their value when they get a new roof on their property,” he said. “But for property that is located within an airport boundary that undertakes new construction or improvements, there is a deduction to that value that the statute mandates.”
Corsale countered that the statute does not create a tax exemption but instead establishes a permissible method for valuing certain types of property.
“To me the answer is no. This is a method of valuation,” he said, arguing that the Missouri Constitution gives the legislature authority to determine how property is valued for tax purposes.
Judge Mary R. Russell questioned whether the deduction could potentially reduce a property’s value to zero if improvements continue over time.
“But couldn’t it be, at some point, a perpetual exemption,” she said, noting the statute allows deductions regardless of when improvement costs were incurred.
Corsale said the improvements ultimately revert to the city when the lease ends.
“What we are dealing with is a private company improving public land that eventually reverts back to the public,” he said. “At the conclusion of the lease, the public gets the benefit of whatever money they put into this property.”
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – A viewer named Donna asked KY3’s Fact Finders whether it is legal for tow trucks with emergency lights to run through a red light. The answer is yes, but with conditions.
Missouri law states that any wrecker or tow truck may proceed past a red stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as necessary for safe operation.
What the law requires
Three conditions must be met for a tow truck driver to proceed through a red light legally: the driver must be responding to an emergency call, must slow down or stop to confirm the intersection can be crossed safely, and must have at least one lighted lamp displaying a red light visible from 500 feet to the front of the vehicle while also sounding an audible signal such as a siren or bell.
Terry Harden of Terry’s Towing said tow truck drivers can legally be treated the same as other emergency vehicles.
“You really could be treated just like a police car, fire truck, ambulance,” Harden said.
Not every call warrants running a red light
Harden said he uses judgment when deciding whether to exercise that legal right.
“If you call me for a jump start, don’t mean I’m going to run red lights and sirens to get to your jump start,” Harden said.
Dispatchers sometimes instruct drivers to respond quickly to emergency crash scenes, Harden said.
“They want you to be there faster than fast. It says, expedite, expedite. And that’s fine. I will expedite it,” Harden said.
Have a question for Fact Finders? Visit KY3.com, go to the menu, select Fact Finders, and click Contact Fact Finders.
To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.
Copyright 2026 KY3. All rights reserved.
The best Missouri sportsbook promos are here for new users! Learn more about Missouri sports betting promos available today.
Missouri sportsbook promos offer new bettors up to $5,115 in bonuses now that sports betting live in the Show-Me State. Find out more about the best Missouri sports betting promos you can claim today!
Best Missouri Sportsbook Promos
These MO sports betting sign up bonuses are some of the best sportsbook promos available today, so make sure to sign up as a new user and claim your sports betting promo in Missouri!
BetMGM: $1,500 in Bonus Bets if You Lose
The BetMGM bonus code ROTOSPORTS is one of the highest-valued Missouri sportsbook promos. New users simply bet up to $1,500 as their first wager, and if that bet loses, you get your stake back in the form of bonus bets.
🎁 Bonus Code:
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DraftKings: Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Wins
The DraftKings promo code is one of the top Missouri sportsbook bonuses we have available. Just for signing up and betting $5, you’ll receive $200 in bonus bets if your first bet wins! I couldn’t think of a better way to start betting with DraftKings.
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bet365: Bet $10, Get $365 In Bonus Bets
The bet365 bonus code Missouri bettors can claim is one of the best bang-for-your-buck offers. You can fetch $365 in bonus bets instantly just by placing a first bet of $10! And you don’t have to win your first bet to claim that MO sportsbook bonus, just place the bet and the bonus bets are yours.
🎁 Bonus Code:
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💰 Sign Up Offer:
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📊 Terms & Conditions:
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⏳ Time Limits:
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Caesars Sportsbook: $250 Bet Match
The bonus from the Caesars Sportsbook promo code ROTO250BM is simple – just place a first bet of up to $250 and Caesars will match that bet with a bonus credit of equal value. This is one of the more unique MO sports betting bonuses, so make sure to grab it before it changes!
🎁 Promo Code:
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💰 Sign Up Offer:
$250 Bet Match
📊 Terms & Conditions:
New Users Only, First Bet Only
⏳ Time Limits:
Bonus Bets Expire After 30 Days
FanDuel: Bet $5, Get $100 In Bonus Bets
The FanDuel promo code has a great return on investment that rewards new users with a substantial payout just for betting $5. This is one of the best Missouri sportsbook promos available, so head over and claim the welcome bonus!
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| ⏳ Time Limits: | Bonus Bets Expire After 7 Days |
Fanatics Sportsbook: 10x$100 Bet Match in FanCash
The Missouri sports betting promo from Fanatics Sportsbook is the best-valued welcome offer available today. Opt in and bet up to $100 each day to receive that a bet match in FanCash once that wager settles. This is one of the best MO betting promos as you can opt in to claim the sign up bonus for your first 10 days of betting!
🎁 Promo Code:
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💰 Sign Up Offer:
10x$100 Bet Match in FanCash
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⏳ Time Limits:
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TheScore Bet: Bet $10, Get $100 in Bonus Bets
TheScore Bet is a newcomer to the US, but it brings with it a great Missouri sportsbook sign up bonus! Bet $10 and Get $100 in Bonus Bets instantly with the welcome offer associated with the TheScore Bet promo code. A classic bet-and-get offer, you don’t have to worry about winning your first bet here. Just bet $10 and the $100 bonus is yours!
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⏳ Time Limits:
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How to Claim Missouri Sports Betting Promos
Claiming Missouri sports betting promos is straightforward and similar across all sportsbooks. Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Click one of the BET NOW links on this article.
- Create an account by providing your name, email, date of birth, last 4 digits of SSN, and verify your identity.
- Make a deposit.
- Enter the promo code if necessary.
- Place a qualifying first bet.
- Receive your bonus!
Most Common Sign-Up Bonuses in Missouri
There are a plethora of sportsbook promos in Missouri, here are the most common types and expected offers:
Bonus Type
How It Works
Max Value
Bet & Get (Guaranteed bonus)
Place a small first bet ($5–$10) → Get bonus bets no matter what.
$200–$400
No Sweat First Bet (Insurance)
First bet loses → Get refund in bonus bets (up to cap). Wins = keep cash.
$1,000–$1,500
Daily Match/No Sweat (Multi-Day)
Match or insure a bet each day for 5–15 days.
$1,000–$3,000
Deposit Match
Deposit X → Get bonus % match (rare at launch due to high playthrough).
$500–$1,000
Profit/Odds Boosts
Enhanced payouts on select bets.
Varies
Tips to Maximize Your MO Sportsbook Promos
While claiming a MO sportsbook promo is simple, getting the maximum value out of that bonus can make the biggest difference. Here’s what I suggest in order to maximize your MO sports betting bonuses:
- Sign up for multiple sportsbooks
- Shop lines & stack promos
- For multi-day offers (like Fanatics), bet the maximum qualifying amount every single day.
- Use bonus bets strategically
- Read the fine print
- Bet responsibly
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