On Tuesday, the SEC released the conference’s schedule of opponents for 2018. In October, Missouri will travel to Tuscaloosa.
When I looked at next year’s schedule, if things remain the same in Columbia, there are two games the Tigers might win. To Missouri’s credit, the schedule looks more challenging than this year’s.
While the Tigers aren’t up to such a challenge this year, maybe next year, with some coaching changes, Missouri will be able to compete more against its slate of FBS opponents.
The Tigers start off with three non-conference opponents in Tennessee-Martin, Wyoming, and a trip to Purdue (who’s excited for that rematch?).
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Missouri will then play one SEC opponent before its bye week, and then at South Carolina, followed by its visit to Alabama.
After the Alabama game, the Tigers will host their last non-con opponent, Memphis, and then the rest is SEC play.
"Takeaway: Missouri would have been much better off if its bye week could have come the week after Alabama. Not many breaks after Sept. 29."
This schedule is going to be a real test for Missouri, and as it stands right now, shows neither favor or mercy for the Tigers. Hopefully, some changes will be made over the offseason if success on the field doesn’t change this year.
Considering their strength of schedule and the way the Tigers have played so far this season, who’s really looking forward to next year? I remain cautiously optimistic, yet slightly cynical, that Missouri can turn its awful start into something a little more meaningful than we’ve seen.
Next: Tiger Takeaways: Mizzou versus Purdue
For now, Missouri has to buckle down and play some semblance of cohesive football. Saturday’s contest against Auburn looks to be biggest test out of the West this year for the Tigers. If the Tigers have hit rock bottom, they can either improve or stay the same. Dare I say, upset special?