Missouri coach Gary Pinkel has done it again.

He brought Mizzou back to respectability with elusive quarterback Brad Smith running the show. Then he shifted to the spread offense and landed a quarterback bred to run it, Chase Daniel.

Daniel took the Tigers to the Next Level – the Big 12 North title, a berth in the conference title game and some time atop the national polls.

Now Pinkel has Blaine Gabbert at the helm. Gabbert's spectacular debut as starter showed the college football world that the Tigers have reloaded again.

He marched Missouri to its thorough 37-9 victory over Illinois Saturday afternoon in the Edward Jones Dome.

This big kid from Parkway West High School has enormous potential. He showed why Nebraska recruited him to run the West Coast offense for Bill Callahan in Lincoln.

When Callahan got canned, Gabbert reconsidered his commitment. He opted to attend Missouri instead and await his chance to replace Daniel.

It is working out quite nicely for him and the school. The line of succession remains intact.

"The quarterback is different, obviously," Illinois coach Ron Zook said. "They didn't have No. 9 (Jeremy Maclin). But we didn't question that they would have a good football team."

Gabbert completed 24 of 33 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 54 yards and a touchdown.

"He had a banner day today," said Zook, stating the obvious.

Gabbert made only cameo appearances as a freshman, splitting the back-up role with senior Chase Patton. Fans could see that he is a big, strong athlete capable of taking off down the field. They didn't see much from him as a passer.

Fans didn't know what to expect once he got the keys to the offense this season. His preseason work was terrific, that wasn't the same as playing for real.

Saturday fans saw that Gabbert was legitimate. He operated the spread offense masterfully, making correct reads, gunning the ball into tight spaces and using his feet when necessary.

He played nearly a mistake-free game and he made a number of NFL-caliber throws. He can stretch the field with the home-run ball and threw the ball with touch underneath.

Danario Alexander (nine catches, 129 yards), Jared Perry (four catches, 93 yards, TD), Wes Kemp (four catches, 77 yards, TD), Derrick Washington, Jerrell Jackson, Andrew Jones, De'Vion Moore . . . all the key Tiger skilled players got in on the fun.

The offense delivered a statement in its first outing without Daniel, Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman.

Similarly, the Missouri defense opened eyes with its solid performance against the Illini. Under new defensive coordinator Dave Steckel, the Tigers made none of the egregious pass coverage mistakes their marred last season.

They forced timely turnovers and remained pretty stout against the run, too. The Illini's ball-control approach worked in Missouri's favor once it built a multiple-TD lead.

Mike Schultz's scheme will serve the Illini well against some teams – but not against an offensive power like Missouri.

"I feel sick for these guys," Zook said afterward. "I feel sick for Illini Nation."

Drive after drive, Gabbert moved the Tigers like an old pro. Drive after drive, Gabbert proved that the Tigers have moved from one productive era of football to another.

Offense will still define this program. The offense, with Gabbert running it, will continue piling up yards and scoring points.