Related: LSU Tigers’ Defense Steals Show in Win Over Florida Gators

Missouri picked up a signature SEC win in their second year in the conference with the road upset over Georgia, but it didn’t come without a price as starting quarterback James Franklin injured his shoulder in the fourth quarter.

Franklin separated his shoulder after he scrambled late in the game and had to leave the game, and that will be his last game for quite some time.

#Mizzou QB James Franklin is expected to be out for at least the next 6 wks, probably longer w a Grade 2 shoulder separation, per source.

— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) October 12, 2013

This news is devastating for Franklin and Missouri, and really college football fans in general who were seeing a great comeback story from the senior quarterback who dealt with a myriad of injuries in a difficult 2012 season.

Franklin was among the most improved players in the country this season and was an integral part in the Tigers’ starting the season with six-straight wins, but now will have to turn to Maty Mauk in his prolonged absence.

Mauk was one of the more prolific high school quarterbacks out of Kenton, Ohio, and the former four-star recruit will have to fill the considerably large shoes of Franklin to fill for Missouri to stay atop the SEC East.

Missouri hosts Florida and South Carolina the next two weeks, and those two defenses will pose a real challenge for the untested Mauk, but his supporting cast and defense will be there to help take the pressure off.

However, anytime you lose a starting quarterback who was playing as well as Franklin, it’s a tough bow and he is hard to replace.

Patrick’s a college football writer for Rant Sports and radio host on Sportstownchicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickASchmidt and add him to your Google network.