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The 2026 season just around the corner for the Missouri Tigers. Eli Drinkwich entering year number seven. And the big question for my Z is this. Can the Tigers break through what feels like their proverbial glass ceiling? Been so close over the last couple years and just haven't quite been able to get over the hump. And last year, guys, was more the same of that. An 8 and 5 overall record, 4 and 4 in conference play. As we start this conversation looking back on what happened a season ago so we can set the table for what is to come this fall. I mean, guys, it was another very ho hum season for Mizu. You know, when you look at the numbers for them and there are numbers that indicate that against average to below average competition, Missouri was very good. Against better competition, Missouri was not very good. They scored over 40 points per game or right around 40 points per game. In the games they won and the games they lost, they averaged less than 13 points per game. And this, this has been the issue for Mizzou over the last few years, right? I mean there are highs. Don't get me wrong. Eli Drinkwitz has raised the standard and raise the expectation of Missouri football, at least here recently. I know historically had a lot of success in the Big 12, great program, but I'm talking about the SEC version of Missouri football. You know, the pre and post Drinkwit splits, I mean they're very evident. What he has done with his program has been really impressive. But I wonder if it's not starting to wane on Mizzou fans a little bit. Because again, you look back, guys, at 20, 25, the Bo Prula thing didn't really work out, right? The passing game was non existent. Ahmad Hardy, Jamal Roberts, fantastic players. This offense ran through the rushing attack, right? The defense under Corey Batoon was really, really good. Yet again, Cory Batoon has done a great job in Como, but there's just a level of disappointment that comes from the last couple seasons. Because the last two seasons I could argue you have been looked at as a real college football playoff contender, right? Last season of Brady Cook, Theo we sleuth or burden. And then last year with what you had returning and the weapons you had and guys, this schedule, the schedule that you had, I mean, your first six games were in Como. You didn't go on the road last year until October 18th. And what happened? Big game against Alabama at home, big opportunity. You lost by three, but you still lost. You fell up short. The tough loss at Vanderbilt, right? That was an extremely disappointing game. 17 to 10 in that ball game, you get throttled by A and M at home, which getting throttled by a M has been a theme for Missouri. 38, 17. And then you lose at Oklahoma, a bitter rivalry game. 17, 6. And then you cap it off losing to Virginia in the bowl game. What does that really mean? Who cares? It is what it is. But just another missed opportunity to get to the college football Playoff. And you wonder if that window isn't closing. And that leads me to guys I mentioned Eli Drinkwoods entering his seventh season. Do I think Eli Drinkwoods is on the hot seat of any sort going in this season? No, I do not. Do I think Eli Drinkwood is a great fit at Missouri? I absolutely do. But I've also taught a Mizzou fans that again, they are becoming very exhausted with okay, like we're gonna go win eight games. Seven or eight. And we're gonna be, you know, it's almost like Mizzou is in sports purgatory where you're good enough to have some success but you're not good enough to win anything of significance. I think there's a reason you're seeing, with all due respect, I think there's a reason Eli Drinkwoods wants play in games expanded playoff. However he wants to phrase it. He wants more inclusion. But why is that? Because it's going to make his and Missouri's playoff path much easier to achieve. If there was a 16 team playoff or a 2014 playoff, guess who would have been in the last two years? The Missouri Tigers. And you could argue the narrative around Eli Drinkwoods or around Mizu football be a lot different. So I think there is certainly a semblance of pressure going into his seventh season. Again, I think Eli Drinkwoods has done a phenomenal job. But I think after back to back seasons where you've been close but have fallen up short both times and you felt like you had teams capable of getting to that quote unquote mountaintop of reaching a college ball playoff. A lot of disappointment. A lot of disappointment over the last two seasons. They have fallen short of expectations. And you just wonder, you just wonder if Missouri reverts back to say a fringe bowl team, does the chatter fire back up around Eli Drinkwitz going into 2027 of at hey, maybe this isn't. Maybe this was the guy to get us to the guy. Maybe we've reached the ceiling under Eli Drinkwoods. I think that's the big question guys. As we take a look at this football team, there is a lot of reason to be excited on the offensive side of the football. It's a new era on offense as Kirby Moore heads over to Wazoo to take that head coaching job. Chip Lindsay is the new offensive coordinator. You might recall him served at Auburn. He's been all over the place. This guy no off knows offensive football. Of course the offense runs through the rushing attack of Ahmad Hardy and Jamal Roberts. We did get a positive update on Ahmad Hardy at SEC media days. Thank goodness. When will he be ready to play? Is it week one? Is it week two? Is he ready by that Kansas game? I would imagine that's probably what they're targeting in regards to getting him back. But the good news is this. It does sound like not only is Ahmad Hardy going to play football this season, but that he will play and be back at full strength at least in the early part of the season. But again, Jamal Roberts, fantastic player. Mizzou produced over 2400 yards of rushing on the ground, 22 touchdowns a season ago. So no question the rushing attack was, excuse me, the bread and butter for Mizzou. Austin Simmons from Ole Miss taking over at QB1. This is a guy last year, guys I was extremely high on felt really good about Austin Simmons potentially being an all conference guy and maybe even more than that, to say the season didn't go as planned is putting it lightly. He suffers the injury, inconsistent play early on, Trinidad Chambliss takes over and that was all she wrote, right? So I, I think the hope and the expectation obviously is Austin Simmons has not even remotely played, come near playing his best football yet and he can do that in Como under Chip Lindsay. I certainly think there's more of the tank there for Austin Simmons and I do think the sky is the limit for him. I still think he can be the guy that I guess we all hyped him up to be. Five seniors anchor the offensive line. Three returners from 2025, including Kaden Green, Curtis Pegler and Dominic Gadice. You got to be really excited about that, paving the way and then three new starting receivers. This is probably where the most change happens with Donovan O returning. But you do add Caleb Goody from Cincinnati and Kaden Lee from Ole Miss, who of course was one of the favorite targets there in Oxford. And of course, guys, I would be remiss if I did not mention the tight end position because Brett Norfleet returns at tight end, one of the best tight ends in the entire conference. He will certainly be one of the favorite targets of Austin Simmons. So when you take a look at this offense as a whole, guys, I don't think much is going to change. The standpoint of the offense is going to run to the rushing attack. The big question for the offense and Chip Lindsay and that group this year, can they get more out of the passing attack? I mean, here's the good news. You had Beau Prabula at quarterback, all due respect to him, but you didn't have a passing game. Essentially they go win you a game and you still won eight games. But I think you saw it in those losses. A lot of times the passing game just vanished. It just flat out vanished. If you can add that wrinkle to your office, heck, make that a strength. I think with Austin Simmons, you could make it a strength. You need some of these new guys at receiver to step up and Donovan O to have his biggest season yet. Brett Norfleet to be that big time target. But quarterback feels like the pick to click here from a zoo. And I know that's so easy to go to. Oh, it's all in the quarterback. But if they have the right signal caller with what they've got on the offensive line, with what they've got at the running back position, certainly. And the way they'll be able to work off that rushing attack, I mean, guys, I think the sky is the limit, right? But it's. That is what controls the ceiling of this offense. You're going to be able to run the football. I mean, even if, even if Ahmad Hardy misses the first month of the season. Jamal Roberts is a fantastic player. You guys might recall. I know you all know if you're watching Ahmad Hardy, number one in the conference in yards per carry last year. Third was Jamal Roberts. I mean, Jamal Roberts probably would start on every other SEC team for the most part at least he would start on every other team. He's that good of a player, right? So Ahmad Hardy getting back is huge. I mean, that's as good as Jamal Roberts is. Ahmad Hardy's Ahmad Hardy for a reason. Him getting back and the update we got from drink is massive. But will they be able to throw the football and consistently. That is the big question. And that is why you went out to the Portal and you brought in a guy like Austin Simmons now on the defensive side of the football. Guys, this is really interesting. This is probably one of the most, in my opinion, interesting and intriguing units in this conference. Corey Batoon back at defensive coordinator. But this is the reason why all 11 starters are gone from 2025. All 11. You look at a depth chart, 00 starters who played significant time last year are back now. There are guys who played who are back, but to not have a single starter back is jarring and it is alarming. But I think if you read between the lines again, there are some dudes that return that should be able to make a big time impact. Darius Smith at the end position up front and Marquis Gracial defensive tackle. They're going to anchor the defensive front. Guys, you added in seven new defensive linemen from the Portal lost some big time pieces in the Portal. The departed. You're going to need those portal additions to step up. Just bottom line, you're banking big time on the Portal and it being able to fig or plug holes, I should say, on your defense and it starts up front. Nicholas Rodriguez is back at linebacker. He's got some experience. Robert Woodyard Jr. Comes in from Auburn via the transfer portal, of course at linebacker as well. And your secondary. Again, the theme here built from the portal. Chris Graves Jr. From Ole Miss, Jaleel Florence from Oregon, Elijah Dotson from Michigan, all brought in to boost that side of the football or boost that position unit if you will. Santana Banner and Trajan Greco return at safety. So guys, I really think a lot of Mizzou's success this season, it will come down to, hey, Corey Batoon, go earn your paycheck. Go earn your paycheck. Corey Batoon. Because there is a lot more questions than we have answers on this side of the ball. That doesn't mean this cannot be a good unit, but as of right now, just a lot of unknowns, man. Lots of unknowns, right? You need a lot of Portal guys to pan out, a lot of them. And maybe early on, guys, you need your offense to carry the weight and carry the water because you might be figuring some things out on defense early again. Cory Baton, I think has earned the benefit of the doubt to the to a degree from the standpoint of how good the defenses have been under his leadership. But this is his greatest challenge in Como. There is absolutely no question. What do you get out of a defense that essentially is built off of all newcomers or at least newcomers to contributing at the level they will be contributing. Guys, let's show some love to special teams. What a Mizzou special teams look like this season. Well, Blake Craig is back from an injury at kicker, got hurt beginning of last year. He is back taking over those kicking duties. Bruno Roos from Florida State via the Portal takes over at punter and Amarian FAL is back as returner. And you might recall, guys, special teams wasn't exactly a bright spot for Mizzou last year. So they're hoping to get more out of that, I think. Certainly again, when you are a team that's kind of feels like Mizzou right now is kind of middle of the pack, special teams is important. It can be that thing that maybe pushes you over the edge and, you know, helps you pull an upset or two and get you more in that playoff conversation. So special teams very important for Mizzou. Guys, our overall outlook or my overall outlook for the Missouri Tigers? First things first. What do our friends at Kalsheek have to say about Mizzou as far as percentage chance in win totals are concerned? Kalshee gives Mizzou a 93 chance to win four or more games, 87 chance to win five or more, 73 chance to win six or more, 55 to win seven or more, 52% to win eight or more. They don't have a percentage chance for nine or more. Weirdly enough. Then they got a 14 chance to win 10 or more, 12% chance to win 11 or more. So we see it start to break, I mean really at seven or eight wins. So kind of you get an idea. Seven and a half is sort of the number that's at in regards to the bigger picture. Missouri A 19 chance to qualify for the College Football Playoff via Cali. And as far as winning the national championship, Missouri less than a 1% chance. Six starters are back for Miz, six on offense and as I mentioned, zero on the defensive side. Doing that information what you will. Guys, let's take a look at the schedule. Because I mentioned the schedule last year and the way that it played into expectations and it was an extremely favorable schedule. Let's take a look at what this one has in store. It ain't quite what you had last year, maybe even the year prior. You open up with Arkansas, Pine Bluff, of course, in that Thursday game, Thursday, September 3rd, then that next Friday, you're at Kansas for the border showdown. Of course, that is a massive game for Mizzou fans. Then you close out non conference play the following week against Troy and then you get into SEC play. You're at Mississippi State, Florida at home to kick off the month of October. That is homecoming. And that will be a massive game for the for the Missouri Tigers. You get A and M at home at Ole Miss, bye week at Arkansas, Texas at home at Georgia, Kentucky at home, and then Oklahoma at home to close out the season. Guys, this schedule is a gauntlet. And if you get to eight wins, you get to nine. Shoot. You get to the college ball playoff. You will have earned it. This is not like last year's schedule. This is not a, hey, we're in Como for the next two, two months and we're kicking our feet up and, and everybody's coming to us. And we got a great opportunity to build that 506 and 070 momentum. Guys, this is a really, really tough schedule. It is. Now, with that being said, I know I just made the comment, I was kind of half joking about the, the early momentum. There is an opportunity in this schedule to build some early momentum. Arkansas, Pine Bluff, Kansas, Troy. Good chance. I mean, you know, I'm not going to sit here and be like, I'm an expert on Kansas football. But Mazu, I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. Let's say you're 3 and 0. Then you go to Mississippi State. I mean, barring the upset, you're 4 and 0. Then you got Florida on homecoming. I mean, Gator's got a first year head coach. What if you're five zero with A and M coming to town? All of a sudden the conversation around Mizzou will shift. Right? The issue, the issue is this schedule. After that five games start, the last seven are brutal. A and M at Ole Miss, Texas at Georgia and Oklahoma. So you've got A M, who was in the playoff. Ole Miss, who was in the playoff. Texas, who just missed the playoff. Who's a favorite to win the national title this year, Georgia, who was in the playoff. And Oklahoma, who was in the playoff. So you got four playoff teams from 2025 and maybe the favorite to win the national title in Texas. Yeah, I think you got to stack wins early. If you're, if you're Mizzou here to have a real shot to, let's just say, match last year's win total, I think you're gonna have to get off to a really, really fast start. That means Austin Simmons coming out of the gate, firing. That means that defense, after at least the first three weeks or four weeks, you know, complimenting what you're doing offensively, Ahmad Hardy getting back healthy, I mean, that's a good news for Ahmad Hardy. He should have a couple weeks to kind of, you know, you don't have to rush him back necessarily, but the schedule more daunting, I would argue, than years past. Now, with that being. Excuse me. That being said, that brings me to this question. I. I just, I wonder, Expectations from a Zoo in 2026, year seven of Eli Drinkwoods. What does that look like? What are expectations I mean, I think for every program, almost every program, if you boil it down to it, the answer could be summarized and you just want to see positive trajectory with your program. You want to know that your program is not on the decline and isn't stagnant. It's on the up and up. So I mean, I think the expectations from a zoo, you at least have to match last year's win total. Right? Right. If not exceed it. You know, you went out in the portal, you spent money, you brought in Austin Simmons, you bring in Chip Lindsay at oc, got a lot of your top contributors back, especially on offense. Like, I, I just, I wonder because again, it does feel like with Missouri football, I will echo this again, it feels like they are in sports purgatory where Missouri has done plenty enough to earn the respect that they are a program to be taken seriously. You know, when you play Missouri, it is going to be a challenge. They have continuously been slightly above the middle of the pack of the sec. They have been a team we have talked about as being a potential contender for the College Football Playoff. Like, they have not been bottom of the barrel of the league. They have been a program that Missouri fans should be very proud of. But at the same time, that's all they've been. They haven't been good enough to win anything that you really are going to hang your hat on. And so I just. Is there a breaking point where it's like at some point the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over again and expecting different results. And so if you go 8 and 4 again, if you go 7 and 5, God, God forbid you regress to 6 and 6, then what? Then where are we with Eli Drinkwoods? Then where are we with the Missouri football program? So I think it makes the expectations this year. Sure, you got lots of questions, but I, I don't think there's a lot of excuses for Eli Drinkwoods this year. I doubt many Missouri fans are making excuses for Eli Drink. It's just like, bro, this is your seventh year. Put up for shut up time now. Austin Simmons panning out. It's going to play a big role in that. Will he pan out? That's the big question. Ahmad Hardy getting him back, like I mentioned, early season is huge. I think he has another monster year along with Jamal Roberts, Corey Batoon earning his check, getting the most out of the defensively big. But you know, I have written in my notes here, guys, will Mizzou finally break through? And I just go back to this question what does that look like? What does Missouri breaking through look like? Let me rephrase the question. Have we reached the ceiling of Missouri football under Eli Drinkwoods? Beating Ohio State in that bowl game a couple years ago in the Cotton bowl, that was awesome. Great memory. That was a great accomplishment for the program. Was that the ceiling? Is Missouri knocking on the door of the playoff but not getting in? Is that the ceiling? Or is Eli Drinkwitz capable of doing more? Is he capable of taking into further heights? And if. If not this year, then when? If not year seven, then how long will it take? Has Eli Drinkwood's earned enough goodwill to be a lifer at Mizzou? As long as the wheels don't completely come off, I just think Missouri football. And in closing, I'll say this. I. I think this is a big trajectory year for Missouri. Like, who are you? Which way are you going? This success you've had of late, is it sustainable to a point to where you might even do more? Or did you miss your window? Like. Like what is the trajectory of this program? Because you've been really solid over the last couple years. You've been as steady as any, but you haven't been able to win the big one. And you got some big ones this year. Boy, if you want to win a big one, you got some big ones. How about A and M? How about Ole Miss? How about Texas? How about Georgia? How about Oklahoma? I mean, those are five big opportunities all games are going to be underdogs in, but those are five big opportunities for Missouri. I mean, if you're going to get back to eight and four guys, you've got to win at least one of those. And if you want to exceed last year, you got to win multiple. Can they do it? Can they do it? Or if we reach the ceiling of Missouri football under Eli Drinkwitz, we shall see. So, guys, I love to hear your thoughts. How do you think Missouri is going to Fair Year 7 of Eli DrinkIt's the 2026 season of Tigers just around the corner?