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DALLAS (AP) -- The Missouri Tigers have a strong case for their highest final football ranking in decades.

The team will soon learn whether their 38-7 victory over Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl helps as much as their lopsided loss in the Big 12 championship game hurt.

Missouri (12-2) was Number One in the AP poll and the BCS standings before a 38-17 setback to Oklahoma on December first. The Tigers then plummeted to Number Seven in the poll and Number Six in the BCS.

At least one team now ahead of Missouri is guaranteed to lose, with Ohio State and LSU playing for the national championship.

The Tigers finished as high as Number Five in 1960.

(Copyright ©2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)