Missouri Football: What's Next for Newly-Open 2025 Non-Conference Game?

Missouri will no longer play Miami (Ohio) in 2025 non-conference
Sep 1, 2022; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Eliah Drinkwitz reacts after a touchdown by the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2022; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Eliah Drinkwitz reacts after a touchdown by the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports / Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
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With the 2024 football schedule set in stone, Missouri is now turning its attention to the following seasons opponents. On Saturday afternoon, Miami (OH) announced their 2025 non-conference schedule. This comes with significance, as Missouri was set to make the trip to Yager Stadium, but weren't listed on the schedule release.

Missouri and Miami signed a contract for their non-conference game back in April 2016. According to the agreement, Missouri will have to pay $750k if this cancelation occurred between 2020 and 2023. If it happened this past year, the fee will be $1 million.

There was speculation that this cancelation may have occurred due to the recent success of Miami, but it's hard to believe Missouri was "afraid" of this game. Rather, it makes more sense that there were mistakes made during previous leadership, and the new group is attempting to make up for them. A similar mistake is seen in the form of Missouri's trip to UMass this season.

With a new opening in their schedule, let's take a look at some options for Mizzou in 2025. It's worth noting that Missouri is currently set to host three home games in the non-conference. These contests will feature Kansas, Louisiana, and UMass.

In all likeliness, Missouri will be scheduling their fourth non-conference game with one of these "group of five" teams. It would make the most sense for Missouri to host a fourth game in 2025, as this revenue would cancel out the money spent on its buy out of the Miami game.

One of the more attractive options is the Liberty Flames, who are on the heals of a 13-1 season that saw them make an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl against Oregon. It is unknown if Missouri want to schedule a tough game, or an easier opponent, but it sure would be fun to host Liberty in 2025 based on the recent trajectory of their program.

Only time will tell, but it should be fun to see what Missouri does with this situation. It is positive to see mistakes made from the past that are now being corrected. It wouldn't have made sense to make the trip to Miami (OH), and now Missouri holds the power in scheduling another home non-conference game in 2025.

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