Missouri Football: Tigers’ preseason ranking comes as a surprise

Preseason is a fun time of year for fans of any football team. For Missouri fans, it’s a time of year where the Tigers’ postseason goals can be attained.

College football doesn’t have a true preseason, unlike its NFL counterpart. “Preseason” in college usually consists of playing a few non-conference opponents, which at times, are considered “cupcake teams.”

While some term this part of the schedule as preseason, the wins and losses still count, unlike the NFL. At the end of this part of the schedule, the slate is not wiped clean when conference play begins.

In 2016, Missouri split its win-loss total against its non-conference opponents, which was disappointing. Of its four opponents, Mizzou be a two of the three opponents it should have, while the game against West Virginia could have gone either way.

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The most disappointing loss in its non-conference slate was against Middle Tennessee. The loss wasn’t lopsided, but losing by less than seven points weighed heavily on fans and players alike.

The good news, is that was 2016. If anything, the Tigers have taken away some good lessons from those losses, and will have an improved look when returning to the field in 2017.

I’m not going to say that Mizzou will dominate its opponents, but the Tigers should have a better showing against its non-conference schedule. Missouri’s usual slate of SEC opponents will again present a challenge.

So where do the Tigers rank entering the 2017 season? Edgar Thompson of The Orlando Sentinel ranks Missouri at No. 51. I’m still not sure if I’m surprised at the generous ranking or if I feel like that’s about right.

Here are a few things that Thompson highlights in defending his ranking of Mizzou: The defense has to play better and will need the younger guys to step-up and take over where their predecessors left off.

While the offense returns 10 starting players from last year, it will need to protect Drew Lock better, improve its pass-catching abilities, remain relatively injury free (not a guarantee), and stay free from off-field troubles.

Unlike last year, Missouri’s non-conference schedule looks a little more formidable. Missouri State, Purdue, Idaho, and UConn will make the Tigers pay, if they’re not looking.

Where would you rank Missouri entering the 2017 season? Is No. 51 too generous; is it underrated, or is it just about where you would expect?