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· collected 2026-08-20 · by Dave Skretta The Associated Press
No. 25 Missouri is facing a tough schedule this season, with five of the top 10 teams in the AP Top 25 preseason poll on their slate. The Tigers are hoping that quarterback Austin Simmons and possibly returning running back Ahmad Hardy can help improve their chances. According to the article, expectations for the team are low, having struggled to escape mediocrity in the SEC under head coach Eli Drinkwitz. The defense is a major concern, with many key players lost through graduation or transfer, including top pass rushers Damon Wilson II and Zion Young.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The University of Missouri's football team, ranked 25th in the nation, is facing a tough schedule this season. The Tigers have had success under coach Eli Drinkwitz, making six bowl games in six seasons, including an 11-2 finish in 2023 capped by a win over Ohio State. However, they've struggled to move beyond mediocrity in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), finishing with losing records twice after bowl defeats. This season is crucial for the team, which will play five of the top 10 teams in the AP Top 25 preseason poll. Quarterback Austin Simmons, a transfer from Ole Miss, and running back Ahmad Hardy, who has recovered from a gunshot wound, are key players to watch. If they can perform well, along with a stingy defense under coordinator Corey Batoon, the Tigers may be able to excel against their challenging schedule.
Written for “Missouri Football Season Preview” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 1536 · logged 2026-08-21
Missouri has gone to six bowl games in six seasons under Eli Drinkwitz, including an 11-2 finish in 2023 capped by a Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State.
asserted
Missouri → go → State
But other than that spectacular season, the Tigers have struggled to escape the middle tier of mediocrity in the SEC, twice under Drinkwitz finishing with losing records after bowl defeats.
asserted
Tigers → struggle → defeats
If All-American running back Ahmad Hardy can return from a gunshot wound sustained earlier this year, and the defense under coordinator Corey Batoon can continue to be among the stingiest in the nation, perhaps the Tigers can excel against a schedule that shapes up to be one of the most difficult in the nation: The Tigers are the only team that will play five of the top 10 teams in the AP Top 25 preseason poll.
asserted
that → return → poll
“For us, we have had the same mentality we’ve always had: STP, something to prove,” Drinkwitz said.
asserted
Drinkwitz → have → mentality
“Everybody at the University of Missouri has something to prove every day, something to prove that we belong in the SEC, something to prove that we can win and at a high level, and something to prove that we want to do it this year.
asserted
we → have → it
Strengths start with the offense
Austin Simmons backed up Jaxson Dart at Ole Miss before winning the starting job ahead of last season.
asserted
Simmons → start → season
When an ankle injury in Week 2 against Kentucky sent him to the sideline, Trinidad Chambliss took over and quickly became a star.
asserted
Chambliss → send → sideline
Simmons played sparingly the rest of the season before transferring to Missouri as the replacement for Beau Pribula, who left for Virginia.
asserted
who → play → Virginia
His big arm should upgrade the Tigers’ passing attack, especially with former Rebels teammate Cayden Lee and Minnesota transfer Caleb Goodie giving him a couple of promising targets to go with veteran tight end Brett Norfleet.
asserted
Lee → upgrade → Norfleet
But the offense really hinges on the running game, where Hardy scampered for an SEC-best 1,649 yards and 16 scores in his first season with the Tigers.
asserted
Hardy → hinge → Tigers
Missouri hopes he’ll be able to contribute at a similarly high level at some point in the season.
asserted
he → hop → season
In the meantime, Jamal Roberts (753 yards, six TDs last season) and Houston Christian transfer Xai’Shaun Edwards will help with the load.
asserted
Roberts → help → load
Weaknesses surround questions on the defense
The Tigers will be almost completely new on defense, and the players that they lost from last season through graduation or the portal merely helped them finish eighth nationally last season allowing 277 yards per game.
asserted
them → surround → game
Top pass rushers Damon Wilson II and Zion Young will have to be replaced after combining for 15 1/2 sacks last season; Wilson transferred to Miami while Young was a second-round pick of the Ravens.
asserted
Young → have → Ravens
In the secondary, Marvin Burkes Jr. and Daylan Carnell are among those that will have to be replaced
New faces
QB Austin Simmons (transfer from Ole Miss), WR Cayden Lee (transfer from Ole Miss), RB Xai’Shaun Edwards (transfer from Houston Christian), LB Robert Woodyard Jr. (transfer from Auburn), CB Chris Graves Jr. (transfer from Ole Miss).
Key losses
DE Zion Young (second-round pick of Baltimore), LB Josiah Trotter (second-round pick of Tampa Bay), DT Chris McLellan (third-round pick of Green Bay), OT Keagan Trost (third-round pick of Green Bay), QB Beau Pribula (transfer to Virginia).
Biggest games for the Tigers
At Kansas (Sept. 11), vs. Texas (Nov. 7), at Georgia (Nov. 14).
___
asserted
that → have → Georgia
