Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz and the Missouri Tigers are clearly in trouble. With defensive struggles, two losses in three weeks, and, most recently, the loss of their starting quarterback Beau Pribula for at least most of the rest of the season, playoff hopes are quickly diminishing.
But, even in the darkness, there is a little light. That light's name is Matt Zollers, and Zollers is a true freshman quarterback who, like Pribula, is also from Pennsylvania.
The 6-foot-3, 200lb quarterback was a two-sport varsity athlete in highschool, who broke school records in both sports and even appeared on the famed quarterback competition, the Elite 11, being named a finalist.
Zollers was selected to play in the 2025 All-American Bowl, but suffered a season ending injury early in his senior season. Before that, he was a five-star recruit, the top prospect in his state, and the second best quarterback in the country.
He had offers from Georgia, Pittsburgh, where his older brother Zach plays, and his home team Penn State, among others, but commited to the Tigers this past April, becoming the first in his class to decide to come to Columbia.
His prior action before this past Saturday mainly consists of relief of Pribula in Mizzou's first contest, a 61-6 routing of the Central Arkansas Bears. In that matchup, Zollers completed all three of his passing attempts, for 58 yards and a score through the air.
Zollers became the backup just a few snaps into the season when presumed second-stringer Sam Horn fractured his right tibia on a QB run, in his first snap of the season.
The freshman stepped in, in a big way on Saturday, showing some poise in the pocket that fans have been hoping to see from Pribula or Horn all season long.
He ended the contest going 14-23 for 138 yards and a touchdown, and mere inches of another, in a 17-10 loss to now-No. 9 Vanderbilt. Zollers ability to step up in the biggest moment of the season and play his role just shows the type of player he is.
He has plenty of time to adjust to his new place in the depth chart, as Mizzou is idle this week, before hosting No. 3 Texas A&M next Saturday afternoon.
If the Tigers are serious about making a push, they got there guy in Zollers, and the time is now.