Missouri will have around 50 new players on the roster for 2026, so the team is sure to look much different from last year's squad. But with so much turnover, it's hard to predict what the team might look like this year. Here are three way-too-early season predictions.
The Tigers start 5-0, then it all comes crashing down
Missouri should fairly easily begin the year 4-0, and a competitive game against Florida could give the Tigers a five-game win streak to start the season. But that's when things could flip for Mizzou. They'll face Texas A&M and Ole Miss in October, and then must deal with Texas and Georgia in back-to-back weeks. So while the Tigers could start hot and enjoy a top-25 ranking, there's definitely a world where Mizzou finishes the regular season at 8-4 just like 2025.
Missouri produces two 1,000-yard rushers
The Tigers return arguably the best running back room in the country with Ahmad Hardy and Jamal Roberts. Hardy was a Doak Walker finalist after finishing the year with 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns, and while there's no question he could put up similar numbers again in 2026, the Tigers may look to add Roberts into the mix even more this season after an impressive year in 2025. Roberts ran for 753 yards on 6.1 yards per carry and ended the season with three straight games of double-digit carries.
Roberts had plenty of opportunities to transfer to be 'the guy' somewhere else, but a guaranteed sizable role with the Tigers was probably a factor in him returning--along with a nice raise.
Eli Drinkwitz's big gamble at edge doesn't pay off
The Tigers lost Zion Young to eligibility and Damon Wilson II to the transfer portal, taking with them 15.5 sacks worth of production. Mizzou added a few pieces at edge in the portal, but none have much experience, if any at all. So Drinkwitz is either looking for several new raw talents to produce, or the returning rotational players to take a big step forward. And while one, of both, of those things could happen, it's hard to see the Tigers coming close to replacing a former All-American and a top NFL Draft pick.