SAN ANTONIO — Here’s a look at how this 10-10 tie has progressed based on what I thought the important issues would be beforehand.

1. Will C.J. Bachér make his final game a memorable one? NU’s quarterback hasn’t been spectacular, but he has been solid, completing 14 of 22 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown. Most importantly, he has not thrown an interception and also did an admirable job of holding onto the ball on a vicious sack by Styker Sulak. He has played about as well as the Cats could have hoped.

2. Can NU keep the Missouri defense/special teams off the board? Unfortunately for the Cats, no. The NU offense has not turned over the ball, but near the end of the half, Stefan Demos mistakenly punted the ball to Jeremy Maclin. The speedster made him and the Cats pay with an untouched 75-yard touchdown scamper that tied the game.

3. What will Mizzou’s attitude be? It’s hard to say, but what is certain is that the Tigers have not been clicking on all cylinders. NU deserves credit for playing a good game thus far, but Mizzou also has looked just a little off. The eighth least-penalized team in the FBS has been hit with four flags, and the vaunted Tigers’ O hasn’t generated any big plays.

4. Which running game will be most effective? NU’s. Tyrell Sutton has shown few ill effects from his wrist injury, picking up 71 yards on 18 carries — while also picking up 28 receiving yards. Derrick Washington has been stuffed, gaining only 11 yards on six attempts. The Tigers’ most effective runners have been Jeremy Maclin (two carries, 16 yards) and Chase Daniel (two carries, 14 yards).

5. Can Pat Fitzgerald match Gary Pinkel? Neither one has faced a truly crucial decision yet, although you could second guess Fitz for trying a 47-yard field goal instead of going for it on fourth-and-two. Villarreal missed what would have been his season-long field goal.

Thoughts: NU has done almost everything right, but went into the locker room tied because of that one huge special teams blunder. The defense has been fantastic, but the offense’s inability to fully capitalize has been troubling. Momentum tends to be overstated, but if it exists, it’s clearly on Mizzou’s side to begin the second half. However, the Cats will get the ball first in the third quarter.

-Andrew Simon

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