When that coincides with a change to the college football landscape, the expectations change nationally.
Missouri football is coming off its best season in a decade, as the Tigers went 10-2 through the regular season and defeated Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, where they took the No. 9 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings.
The College Football Playoff is expanding to 12 teams this year. Last year, Mizzou would have been in had that format been in place.
This year, the schedule seems set up favorably for Eli Drinkwitz’s team. Here’s how:
Missouri, outside of its non conference slate, either plays a team it beat last season (Vanderbilt; South Carolina; Arkansas), a team with a new coach (Alabama, Texas A&M, Mississippi State) or at Faurot Field (Oklahoma; Auburn) in all 12 games on the schedule.
If the Tigers are ever going to make the all-in call, 2024 shapes up to be the time.
Now, have they got the cards?
The Tribune broke down Missouri’s transfer acquisitions for the 2024 campaign:
**Missouri football found capable backup to Brady Cook at QB**
Portal additions: Drew Pyne (Arizona State); Harold Blood Jr. (walk-on, Southern)
Missouri did exactly what it needed to do here. Brady Cook is the starter, but when backup Sam Horn was lost for the season due to Tommy John surgery, options got a little light, as Jake Garcia and Gabarri Johnson had transferred out of the program in the winter window.
Drew Pyne has 19 career appearances over four seasons between Arizona State and Notre Dame, making him a solid backup option. If Cook goes down, Missouri’s playoff dreams take a serious hit, but Pyne’s addition provides some insurance.
**Offensive line**
Portal additions: Cayden Green (Oklahoma); Marcus Bryant (SMU); Jayven Richardson (Hutchinson CC)
This was Missouri’s best work in the transfer portal. Marcus Bryant and Cayden Green should be ready-made replacements for departed left tackle Javon Foster and left guard Xavier Delgado. Bryant was an All-AAC first-teamer last season at left tackle, and Green was OU’s starter at left guard. With the returning starting center, right guard, and right tackle, Missouri has one of the most promising offensive lines in the SEC.
**Running back**
Portal additions: Marcus Carroll (Georgia State); Nate Noel (Appalachian State)
The task here was to replace the outgoing 1,627 yards departing with Cody Schrader, who signed an undrafted free agent deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
Marcus Carroll is an All-Sun Belt first-teamer who ran for 1,350 yards and 13 touchdowns. Nate Noel has rushed for at least 500 yards in each of his four seasons in Boone, North Carolina.
Missouri has the option to go by committee to recoup Schrader’s production, or they’ll have to find a new workhorse. That will be decided in the fall, but MU has done more than enough to feel good about where its run game stands.
**Wide receiver, tight end**
Portal additions: None
Missouri didn’t dip into the portal at wide receiver or tight end. But it didn’t need to, either.
The Tigers have their top six wide receivers in terms of production returning. Brett Norfleet will start at tight end, and if MU wants to go to bigger or two-TE sets, it has Tyler Stephens and Jordon Harris who have proven capable as blockers.
**Defensive tackle**
Portal additions: Chris McClellan (Florida); Sterling Webb (New Mexico State); Eddie Kelly (Georgia Tech)
Missouri needed three players to round out its two-deep, and it got three. Florida transfer Chris McClellan, at 6-foot-3, 320 pounds, figures to be an instant starter in Columbia. Webb was productive at New Mexico State in 2023, and Kelly has experience between Georgia Tech and USF. But it’s yet to be seen whether that will translate to the SEC level.
Missouri missed on a couple of targets at tackle in the spring in TCU transfer Damonic Williams and Michigan State’s Simeon Barrow, who went to Oklahoma and Miami, respectively. Signing one of those two would have made the room a lot deeper.
**Defensive end**
Portal additions: Zion Young (Michigan State); Darris Smith (Georgia)
The Tigers added two impact players at defensive end in Zion Young and Darris Smith.
The task here was to replace a first-round NFL Draft pick in Darius Robinson and find rushers to partner Johnny Walker Jr. on the edge. Young and Smith have the tools to be key contributors for Missouri next season, which makes this a job well done for the MU staff.
**Linebacker**
Portal additions: Corey Flagg Jr. (Miami); Jeremiah Beasley (Michigan); Brady Hultman (walk-on, Wyoming)
Corey Flagg Jr. was an important addition out of Miami. The Tigers lost Ty’Ron Hopper to the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, team-captain Chad Bailey to eligibility and a slew of backups to the portal.
When it comes to experience, the Tigers still look a little light. Chuck Hicks is back for a seventh season of football. Triston Newson slotted in capably last season when he needed to. Then …
The remainder of Missouri’s linebacker room has four combined collegiate appearances, not including special teams reps. Beasley is a true freshman, enrolling at Michigan and December and transferring to Mizzou in the spring. Another piece at linebacker out of the portal — especially considering the wear and tear — wouldn’t have gone amiss.
**Cornerback**
Portal additions: Toriano Pride (Clemson); Gerald Lacy Jr. (walk-on, Stephen F. Austin)
Toriano Pride was one of Missouri’s more impressive newcomers in spring camp, which MU needed. Mizzou lost starters Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Kris Abrams-Draine to the draft.
Pride will slot in at corner in Game 1 alongside returner Drey Norwood. But the Tigers are light on game time behind those two players. Missouri is one injury away from starting receiver-turned-corner Ja’Mariyon Wayne, near-repless redshirt freshmen Shamar McNeil or Nicholas DeLoach, or a true freshman. The coaching staff likes those players for the future, but running with them into a playoff berth would be risky.
