The 2026 Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers are led by Eliah Drinkwitz in his seventh season as their head coach. The Tigers play their home games at Faurot Field located in Columbia, Missouri, which completed a $250 million addition to the north end zone prior to the season, making its official capacity 63,609. Missouri is coming off an 8–5 season in 2025, ending with a loss to the Virginia Cavaliers in the Gator Bowl.
On December 12, 2025, offensive coordinator Kirby Moore accepted the head coach position at Washington State. Former Michigan OC Chip Lindsey was brought in to replace Moore. Drinkwitz then brought in former Clemson OC Garrett Riley to be his quarterbacks coach. Erik Link was not brought back as special teams coordinator, with John Papuchis replacing him. On May 10, 2026 All-American running back Ahmad Hardy sustained a gunshot wound to the thigh while in Mississippi, with his return to play unknown.
Drinkwitz was active in the portal once again, bringing in a total of 26 players. On the offensive side of the ball, Drinkwitz brought in former Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons to compete with Matt Zollers for the starting QB position as well as wide receivers Cayden Lee (Ole Miss) and Caleb Goodie (Cincinnati). Notable defensive transfers included Auburn LB Robert Woodyard Jr., defensive backs Jahlil Florence (Oregon), Sione Laulea (Oreogn), and Chris Graves Jr. (Ole Miss), and safeties JaDon Blair (Notre Dame) and Kensley Louidor-Faustin (Auburn).
At the end of spring football camp, Drinkwitz named Austin Simmons as QB1, beating out Matt Zollers. For SEC Media Days in Tampa, Florida at the end of July, Drinkwitz brought OL Cayden Green, RB Jamal Roberts, and LB Nicholas Rodriguez. Missouri was picked to finish 10th in the SEC by media covering SEC Media Days. RB Ahmad Hardy and OL Cayden Green were voted First Team pre-season All-SEC. Ahmad Hardy was named AP First Team pre-season All-American, with Cayden Green named Second Team pre-season All-American.
Missouri was ranked Number 25 in both the pre-season Coaches and AP Poll.
Offseason Departures 2026 Missouri offseason departures Toriano Pride Jr. CB Declared for 2026 NFL draft Kevin Coleman Jr. WR Declared for 2026 NFL draft Josiah Trotter LB Declared for 2026 NFL draft Chris McClellan DT Declared for 2026 NFL draft Zion Young DE Declared for 2026 NFL draft Keagen Trost OL Declared for 2026 NFL draft Khalil Jacobs LB Graduated Stephen Hall CB Out of eligibility Vince Brown II TE Out of eligibility Tommy Lock QB Out of eligibility Dreyden Norwood CB Out of eligibility Daylan Carnell S Out of eligibility Triston Newsom LB Out of eligibility Connor Weselman P Out of eligibility Connor Tollison OL Out of eligibility Henry McDermott OL Out of eligibility Logan Muckey WR Out of eligibility Bralen Henderson DT Out of eligibility Jalen Catalon S Medically retired Sam Horn QB Stepped down Damon Wilson II Edge Transferred to Miami Beau Pribula QB Transferred to Virginia Marquis Johnson WR Transferred to Mississippi State Joshua Manning WR Transferred to Kansas State Marquise Davis RB Transferred to Louisville Javion Hilson Edge Transferred to Virginia Tech Henry Fenuku OL Transferred to North Texas Daniel Blood WR Transferred to Washington State Johnny Williams IV OT Transferred to North Texas Nate Johnson Edge Transferred to Auburn Marvin Burks Jr. S Transferred to Wisconsin Robert Meyer K Transferred to UC Davis James Madison II WR Transferred to UTSA Brendon Haygood RB Transferred to North Texas Mose Phillips III S Transferred to Oklahoma State Tavorus Jones RB Transferred to UTEP Caleb Flagg S Transferred to UCF Shamar McNeil CB Transferred to Akron Mark Manfred III CB Transferred to Kentucky Jaylen Early OL Transferred to Texas State Justin Bodford DT Transferred to Middle Tennessee Keiton Jones OL Transferred to Kansas State Jayven Richardson OL Transferred to Colorado Brandon Solis OL Transferred to Kansas Dakotah Terrell TE Transferred to Arkansas–Fort Smith Lions basketball team Ryder Goodwin K Transferred to Bethune–Cookman
Incoming transfers
There are several new names this season:
Austin SimmonsQB2 yearsOle MissJahlil FlorenceCB2 yearsOregonRobert Woodyard Jr.LB2 yearsAuburnCaleb GoodieWR1 yearCincinnatiJaDon BlairS4 yearsNotre DameKensley Louidor-FaustinS2 yearsAuburnJosh AtkinsOT1 yearArizona StateLuke WorkOT2 yearsMississippi StateXai'Shaun EdwardsRB3 yearsHouston ChristianNaeshaun MontgomeryWR4 yearsFloridaJaden JonesDE2 yearsFlorida StateDonta Simpson Jr.DL3 yearsMiamiElijah DotsonDB3 yearsMichiganNick EversQB1 yearUConnBrunno ReusK/P4 yearsFlorida StateKenric Lanier IIWR2 yearsMinnesotaSione LauleaCB1 yearOregonWill KemnaOT4 yearsKansas StateColin SorensenOT2 yearsCharleston SouthernMalae FonotiRB3 yearsMontanaZack OwensOL2 yearsMississippi StateCJ MayEdge4 yearsLouisvilleChris Graves Jr.CB1 yearOle MissMalik BryantEdge2 yearsMiamiCayden LeeWR1 yearOle MissKamauryn MorganEDGE3 yearsBaylorBobby Washington Jr.LB2 yearsMiamiMark ShenoudaP2 yearsTennessee StateCavan TuleyDE2 yearsHoustonMark HensleyDT2 yearsNorthern Illinois
Schedule
Sources:
Rankings
Game summaries vs. Arkansas–Pine Bluff (FCS)
Uniform CombinationHelmet (Oval Tiger) JerseyPants
Statistics UAPBMIZ First downs 13 33 Plays–yards 53–198 78–562 Rushes–yards 29–89 45–205 Passing yards 109 357 Passing: –– 11–24–0 26–33–0 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 26:02 33:58 Team Category Player Statistics UAPB Passing Jack Schierholz 4/10, 67 yards, TD Rushing Za'Marion Webber 7 carries, 56 yards, TD Receiving David Brewer IV 2 receptions, 29 yards, TD Missouri Passing Austin Simmons 17/19, 252 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jamal Roberts 13 carries, 47 yards, TD Receiving Donovan Olugbode 8 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TD
at Kansas (Border War)
Uniform CombinationHelmet (Oval Tiger)JerseyPants
Statistics MIZKU First downs 21 18 Plays–yards 71–469 67–255 Rushes–yards 41–177 36–81 Passing yards 292 174 Passing: –– 19–30–0 14–31–2 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 31:21 28:39 Team Category Player Statistics Missouri Passing Austin Simmons 19/29, 292 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jamal Roberts 28 carries, 125 yards, TD Receiving Donovan Olugbode 6 receptions, 121 yards, TD Kansas Passing Isaiah Marshall 13/30, 168 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Dylan Edwards 6 carries, 39 yards Receiving Nik McMillan 2 receptions, 52 yards, TD
vs. Troy
Uniform Combination (100th Anniversary of Memorial Stadium Uniforms)Helmet (Block M) JerseyPants
Statistics TROYMIZ First downs 18 13 Plays–yards 72-323 47-230 Rushes–yards 40-93 28-139 Passing yards 230 91 Passing: comp–att–int 18-32-1 10-19-0 Time of possession 37:23 22:37 Team Category Player StatisticsTroy Passing Goose Crowder 18/32, 230 yards, 2 TDs, INT Rushing Gavin Griffin 17 carries, 56 yards Receiving TK Keyes 2 receptions, 83 yards, TDMissouri Passing Austin Simmons 10/19, 91 yards, TD Rushing Jamal Roberts 22 carries, 128 yards, TD Receiving Donovan Olugbode 3 receptions, 31 yards, TD
at No. 24 Mississippi State
Uniform CombinationHelmet (Oval Tiger)JerseyPants
Statistics MIZMSST First downs 23 27 Plays–yards 75–414 78–499 Rushes–yards 35–119 40–139 Passing yards 295 360 Passing: –– 23–40–0 27–38–1 Time of possession 31:36 28:24 Team Category Player Statistics Missouri Passing Austin Simmons 23/39, 295 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jamal Roberts 26 carries, 95 yards Receiving Cayden Lee 11 receptions, 156 yards, 2 TD Mississippi State Passing Kamario Taylor 27/38, 360 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Fluff Bothwell 25 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD Receiving Anthony Evans III 8 receptions, 114 yards
vs. No. 8 Florida
Uniform CombinationHelmet (Block M)JerseyPants
Statistics FLAMIZ First downs 19 24 Plays–yards 64–325 66–560 Rushes–yards 25–42 36–220 Passing yards 283 340 Passing: –– 26–39–0 23–30–0 Time of possession 28:20 31:40 Team Category Player Statistics Florida Passing Aaron Philo 21/34, 197 yards, 1 TD Rushing London Montgomery 1 carry, 17 yards Receiving Dallas Wilson 4 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD Missouri Passing Austin Simmons 23/30, 340 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jamal Roberts 24 carries, 211 yards, 3 TD Receiving Cayden Lee 8 receptions, 110 yards
vs. Texas A&M
Statistics TAMUMIZ First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Texas A&M Passing Rushing Receiving Missouri Passing Rushing Receiving
at Ole Miss
Statistics MIZMISS First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Missouri Passing Rushing Receiving Ole Miss Passing Rushing Receiving
at Arkansas (Battle Line Rivalry)
Statistics MIZARK First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Missouri Passing Rushing Receiving Arkansas Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Texas
Statistics TEXMIZ First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Texas Passing Rushing Receiving Missouri Passing Rushing Receiving
at Georgia
Statistics MIZUGA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Missouri Passing Rushing Receiving Georgia Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Kentucky
Statistics UKMIZ First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving Missouri Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Oklahoma (rivalry)
Statistics OUMIZ First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Oklahoma Passing Rushing Receiving Missouri Passing Rushing Receiving
Coaching staff Name Position Seasons at Missouri Alma materEliah DrinkwitzHead Coach7Arkansas Tech (2004)Chip LindseyOffensive Coordinator1Alabama (1997)Corey BatoonDefensive coordinator/safeties3Long Beach State (1991)John PapuchisSpecial teams coordinator1Virginia Tech (2001)Garrett RileyQuarterbacks1Texas Tech (2012)Al PogueCornerbacks5Alabama State (1996)David BlackwellDefensive line (Interior)3East Carolina (1997)Derek NicholsonLinebackers and co-defensive coordinator1Florida State (2009)Jacob PeelerWide receivers4Louisiana Tech (2007)Brandon JonesOffensive line3Texas Tech (2007)Curtis LuperRunning backs6Stephen F. Austin (1996)Brian EarlyDefensive line (Edge)2University of Arkansas at Monticello (1994)Chris BallDefensive analyst2Missouri Western State (1987)
Personnel
References