The Missouri Tigers are striving to stay competitive against established SEC powerhouses, and the college football community will be closely watching their progress this season. The AP Poll has ranked them at No. 9 heading into Week 2, while the Coaches Poll places them slightly lower at No. 10.
This marks the first time since 2008 that the Tigers have been ranked in the top 10 after Week 1, a time when future NFL first-round pick Luther Burden III was just five years old and quarterback Brady Cook was only seven. At that time, fan-favorite head coach Eli Drinkwitz was an assistant coach at a high school in Arkansas. Clearly, a lot has changed since then.
Mizzou has been part of the AP Top 25 since Week 5 of the previous season, a consistency that few teams can boast. This stability not only underscores the program’s current success but also suggests a promising future.
Under Drinkwitz’s leadership, he has achieved a commendable 30-23 record. He has consistently developed strong teams on both offense and defense, while also building impressive recruiting classes and maintaining a significant NIL fund.
“I think we’re battle-ready,” Drinkwitz stated in a recent press conference. “We’ve tackled live more than we ever have in any camp, accumulated more practice reps this camp than in the last three seasons, and focused more on situational football than ever before. Now it’s about 11 players working together against an opponent who also influences the outcome.”
After week one, #Mizzou FB coach Eli Drinkwitz says he wants more consistency in the passing game and on third downs.
I asked how he goes about fixing that in practice: "It starts with fundamentals…pushing the limits in practice. Don't practice just to practice." pic.twitter.com/Cmt1YY6Rd0
— Nathalie Jones (@NathalieABC17) September 3, 2024
“This team is ‘battle-ready.’ Confidence has never been higher, and neither has their AP Poll ranking. As they prepare for Week 2 against Buffalo, which recently defeated Lafayette 30-13, they remain committed to continuous improvement each week.”
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