Eli Drinkwitz has transformed Missouri football into a relevant force over the past three seasons, guiding the Tigers to back-to-back double-digit-win campaigns in 2023 and 2024 before finishing with eight victories in 2025.
The program has been trending upward under Drinkwitz, and expectations are even higher heading into this season. Missouri’s ceiling could rise significantly if star running back Ahmad Hardy is able to return for the majority of the year while continuing his recovery from a gunshot wound.
With a revamped offense, the Tigers are being viewed as a potential College Football Playoff sleeper. While they remain a long shot in the national championship race, their +9000 odds reflect a team that could surprise if everything comes together.
As fall camp opened Monday, Drinkwitz addressed an area of last season’s offense that failed to meet his expectations. For Missouri to take the next step and compete with the SEC’s elite programs, the head coach believes the Tigers must find ways to make their tight ends a bigger factor in the passing game.
The running game was not the concern, especially with Hardy helping elevate the rushing attack in 2025. Instead, Drinkwitz pointed to the need for improved production from his tight ends, particularly when it comes to creating explosive plays downfield.
“One of the disappointing things is that we have not consistently done with (tight end) Brett (Norfleet) is utilize him further down the field,” Drinkwitz said. “The guy’s 6-foot-6. The further down the field he gets, the taller he gets compared to the other players. We need to challenge ourselves to utilize the tight ends as an advantage for us this year.”
Drinkwitz is aiming for Missouri to become more than just a competitive SEC team in 2026. The goal is to turn the Tigers into a legitimate conference contender capable of challenging the league’s traditional powers.
Missouri’s path to that next level will depend on several factors, including the health of Hardy, the development of the new-look offense, and whether the tight end group can become the matchup problem Drinkwitz believes it can be.