Tigers' secondary will get first true test from Raiders

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Missouri cornerbacks are aware of Texas Tech's reputation for throwing the football. And for a group that says it has yet to be challenged this year, that's part of the excitement.

The 23rd-ranked Tigers (5-0, 1-0 Big 12) travel to Lubbock, Texas, Saturday to play Texas Tech, a team whose 347.6 passing yards a game leads the Big 12 Conference. The Red Raiders (4-1, 1-0) rank third in the country for passing. Their 432.8 yards per game rank third in the conference in total offense.

Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell averages over 300 yards passing per game, and Robert Johnson and Joel Filani rank first and second in the Big 12 in catches per game.

"It's exciting because it's a good football team, and they throw the ball all over the place," Missouri cornerbacks coach Cornell Ford said. "So I would think any corner, they are pretty excited to play against a passing team like this."

Starter Darnell Terrell said Missouri's defensive line and linebackers have played so well that the secondary hasn't really been tested yet. But he knows that will change this week.

"It's a great challenge," he said. "This team doesn't run the ball a lot; they put the ball in the air a lot. This is probably going to be a true test for the secondary."

Through its first five games, Missouri has given up an average of 143.2 passing yards per game. But that was before Domonique Johnson injured an ACL in his right knee during Saturday's 28-13 win over Colorado. Missouri coach Gary Pinkel reiterated Monday that Johnson will need surgery, and the timetable for his return has not been set.

Ford said he has a stable of young corners who are ready to step in for Johnson, including redshirt freshman Hardy Ricks, true freshman Del Howard and junior college transfer Paul Simpson.