Columbia. Mo. ? Blaine Gabbert’s numbers have plummeted the last two weeks while he has been hobbled by a sprained right ankle. So have Missouri’s fortunes, with losses to Nebraska and Oklahoma State.

The sophomore quarterback has heard plenty of speculation that a break would do him, and the Tigers, good in the long run. But even if he’s far from 100 percent there’s no way Gabbert’s missing tonight’s Big 12 test against No. 3 Texas.

“That’s not the kind of person I am,” Gabbert said. “People can think all they want, they have no idea what’s going on. I’m fine. I’m good to go.”

Missouri (4-2, 0-2 Big 12) needs Gabbert against the Longhorns (6-0, 4-0), who lead the nation with a 42-point average, are 6-0 for the second straight season and have taken 15 of the last 16 from the Tigers, including a rout last season in Austin. Texas is one of seven unbeaten teams left, has won 10 in a row dating to last season and is a 13-point favorite to spoil homecoming.

“I knew these three games were our toughest games, I knew this was going to be a great challenge for us,” coach Gary Pinkel said. “I said this last year, and the year before and the first year I got here: It’s hard to win. It’s very, very hard to win.”

For Gabbert, at times it appears it’s been very hard to move, and the injury has affected his accuracy. The last two weeks he’s 39 for 87 with five interceptions and one touchdown.

“It’s a little bit different than having a sore elbow or wrist because it’s your plant foot,” Pinkel said. “How that affects him, we’ll never know. But here’s a guy who says ‘I’m playing,’ as long as the medical staff says it’s OK, and that kind of attitude is going to define him.”

Missouri’s best hope for an upset might be a quick start against a school that’s been slow-starting on offense much of the season.