The Missouri Tigers’ 2024 season, once brimming with promise, took a steep nosedive in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. The 34-0 shutout loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide was a sobering setback for a Mizzou team that began the year with playoff aspirations but now may be staring down the barrel of a disappointing finish. From a top-10 team ready to challenge for SEC dominance, the Tigers suddenly look like they’ll be lucky to end their season with a January bowl game invite.
A Broken Offense and a Backup QB Blunder
The offensive woes of the Tigers were on full display, with backup quarterback Drew Pyne struggling mightily in place of Brady Cook. Pyne’s three interceptions were crippling for Mizzou, each turnover providing Alabama ample opportunities to pull further away. As Pyne faltered, Missouri’s offense stalled, failing to pose any significant threat or spark any momentum. While Cook’s absence certainly contributed to the lackluster showing, Pyne’s unreliability under pressure has illuminated a glaring problem: Missouri lacks depth at the most critical position on the field.
When Brady Cook was leading the charge, the Tigers has been slightly above average, but with Pyne at the helm, this offense has become unrecognizable. Pyne’s performance—errant throws, forced decisions, and a tendency to wilt under Alabama’s relentless pass rush—revealed the dire need for a more reliable backup plan. This offense is a shell of the dynamic unit that once seemed capable of competing with the SEC’s best.
Coaching Staff Struggles to Find Answers
Coach Eli Drinkwitz finds himself in the spotlight, as his offensive game plans have gone from dynamic to predictable. He’s faced a series of challenges—some of his own making, others simply bad luck—but the bottom line is that Mizzou’s offensive machine has ground to a halt. The playcalling has been stagnant, with obvious run plays on early downs and predictable passes on third and long. The Tigers’ coaching staff appears lost and devoid of answers, and this lack of creativity has made it far too easy for SEC defenses to anticipate Missouri’s next move.
Drinkwitz’s struggles in recruiting a consistent backup quarterback have only compounded the team’s issues. While he’s shown an eye for talent in recruiting, his decisions at quarterback have raised questions. Pyne, a transfer brought in to shore up the depth chart, has not been the answer. The Tigers now find themselves with an injury-prone starter and an unreliable backup—a scenario that has crippled Missouri’s ability to keep up in SEC play.
A Season That Slipped Away
Missouri now stands at 6-2, with a season that started with a tantalizing glimpse of playoff potential. A double-digit win season remains possible, but without a functioning offense, the Tigers’ future looks bleak. They’ll need to find at least some form of rhythm on offense if they hope to finish with a respectable record, but winning more than one or two of their remaining games seems unlikely unless they can revitalize a dormant offense.
The Tigers once looked like a team primed for a deep postseason run, a legitimate SEC title contender. Now, they’re merely hoping to land a New Year’s Day bowl game. The 2024 Missouri Tigers are a reminder of how quickly things can change in college football—how playoff dreams can become bowl game consolation prizes in just a few short weeks. Coach Drinkwitz and his staff will need to dig deep, retool the playbook, and perhaps take a hard look at their offseason QB plans if they hope to prevent another season like this from unfolding again.
For Tigers fans, this season isn’t the thrilling sequel they’d hoped for. Instead, it’s a frustrating case of potential unfulfilled.
