The Missouri Tigers avoided disaster on Saturday, edging Vanderbilt in a thrilling double-overtime win after Vandy kicker Brock Taylor missed a 31-yard field goal in the second OT. The Tigers are now 4-0, but questions swirl around the team’s true potential. Despite the unblemished record, it wasn’t the performance of a top-10 team, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering just how far this squad can go. Here are five thoughts on Missouri football’s season after the first four weeks.
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz said after the win: “I’m really proud of our football team for finding a way. Didn’t do what we wanted to in the 3rd and 4th quarter to put the game away. We didn’t have even close to our best game.”
1. Running Identity is Key
Missouri’s passing game has been inconsistent, and it’s becoming clear that their path to success this season may hinge on their ability to run the ball. Running back Nate Noel was the workhorse against Vanderbilt, racking up 199 yards on 24 carries. His performance helped bail out a struggling offense. The Tigers should take a page from Bud Kilmer in Varsity Blues: “We’re a running team!” The offensive identity going forward should be built around a ground-and-pound approach, especially if issues in the passing game persist. A reliable running game can stabilize the offense and take pressure off the quarterback, which has become more critical as each game passes.
2. The College Football Playoff is Still in Play
While the win over Vanderbilt wasn’t pretty, the Tigers are still undefeated. Winning ugly is always better than losing, especially in a season where playoff hopes remain alive. Missouri’s 4-0 start puts them in a strong position to chase lofty goals, including a potential berth in the College Football Playoff (CFP). A bye week ahead of a crucial road test at Texas A&M provides a valuable opportunity for the Tigers to regroup and refocus. With ranked teams like A&M on the horizon, Missouri can still control its destiny and strengthen its resume with marquee wins.
3. Coaching Blunders Need to Be Addressed
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz has overseen some puzzling decisions this season, and Saturday was no different. In the second quarter against Vanderbilt, a play call with limited time remaining resulted in a sack and handed the Commodores an easy three points. These types of decisions can be season-altering and must be cleaned up. Missouri has talent, but questionable coaching choices can derail momentum in an instant. The Tigers can’t afford more avoidable mistakes as the schedule toughens up.
4. More Questions Than Answers
At 4-0, being ranked in the top 10 should provide some clarity about a team’s potential. But for Missouri, more questions than answers remain. Teams like Arkansas and South Carolina, once expected to be manageable, now look tougher than anticipated. Missouri will need to be near-perfect to win 10 games and be in the CFP conversation. If they don’t, a promising season could quickly spiral into one labeled as a disappointment. The margin for error is razor-thin, and the Tigers still haven’t established enough consistency to instill confidence.
5. Feast or Famine Defense
Missouri’s defense is a mixed bag, capable of both brilliance and breakdowns. The Tigers allowed Vanderbilt to gain 166 yards in the first quarter alone, but they tightened up after that, limiting the Commodores to just 158 yards for the remainder of the game. However, issues with broken coverage and big plays remain a concern. The defense has been a solid B+ unit overall, but they need to iron out the lapses that have led to costly mistakes. If the defense can find consistency, it will be a major asset as they navigate the tougher part of their schedule.
Missouri’s undefeated record is basically the equivalent of making a 71% on a test that your professor told you that you need a 70% on to pass their class. The Tigers have shown flashes of being an upper-caliber team but need to sharpen their identity and clean up costly mistakes if they want to compete for a College Football Playoff spot. The next few weeks will be telling, especially with Texas A&M looming on the horizon.
