2023 Record: 11-2 (6-2)
AP Ranking: 11
Head Coach: Eli Drinkwitz
The Playoffs are within grasp for the 2024 Tigers. Since joining the SEC in 2012, Missouri has experienced a sharp decline from their Pinkel days in the Big 12. Obviously there was great success in their first two seasons, but they’ve left much to be desired since then. That is, until their breakout last season. After back-to-back 6-7 seasons, the Tigers elevated to 11-2 a season ago, which would have had them in the expanded playoff if it were in place last season.
Heading into this season, they arguably had the best transfer season in the SEC and by that I mean, they kept every key piece in Columbia. Brady Cook will have the best target in the country to throw to, Luther Burden III. If you don’t know the name, become familiar. You’ll see him playing on Sundays eventually. The run game will miss Cody Schrader, who is off to the NFL, but brought in two transfers who should pick up the workload: Marcus Carroll and Nate Noel.
Depth, depth and more depth. That is the strength of this defense. DT Chris McClellan from Florida assumes the anchor role for the defense while returning almost every key contributing player from a season ago.
Missouri holds one of the easier schedules this season in the SEC, facing only three ranked opponents. There’s a realistic chance they can be in the 11/12 win conversation. The key is consistency. As easy as Saban made it look over the years, there’s a reason that has not been replicated often in the SEC.
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