COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz has his program on the brink of a College Football Playoff bid in 2025.
There’s a feeling around the SEC that his consistent success on the field and in the recruiting space that Drinkwitz has built enough momentum to field a contender. Back-to-back 10-win seasons and a conference championship in his one year at Appalachian State has Missouri in the conversation.
The Tigers’ are 4-5 over the past two seasons against ranked teams but were blown out by 34 to Alabama and 31 to Texas A&M in 2024. Losses like that hurt a resume more than it helps and his team must avoid those next season to be in the hunt for an at-large bid.
Will Mizzou make the College Football Playoff under Eli Drinkwitz?
“100% I do believe that.
“No. 1, I think he’s going to be given time to do so.”
“No. 2, I believe the Playoff is going to expand and force-feed 4 SEC teams in.”
Full show: https://t.co/DwOFc2qtFj https://t.co/9ZbWzPUkMF pic.twitter.com/M5n5WqnR08
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) March 7, 2025
Belief in Drinwitz
“I 100% do believe that,” Nate Edwards of RockMNation said. “Number one, I think he’s going to be given the time to do so. No. 2 the playoff is going to expand and force feed four SEC teams.”
With an overall record of 50-25 since becoming coach in 2020, the program has to feel like its in a good spot and will challenge for a spot in the playoff in the next few years. The program’s trajectory at this point under Drinkwitz rivals what former coach Gary Pinkel did in the mid-to-late 2000’s in the Big 12 and late 2010’s in the SEC.
“Regardless of my politics on that kind of feel like Missouri is going to be one of the top four teams in the SEC at some point in the next five years,” Edwards said . “I believe Drinkwitz gets them in, how he does there, no clue. Because when Missouri entered the season with expectations and miss on them we go ‘ Guess we try again next year when the playoff expands again.”
“Good Place to Be”
Missouri has struggled to win consistently in the SEC with two championship game appearances a mere decade ago. With a league title not being a prerequisite any longer, folks surrounding the program believe they’re in a good spot.
“If you’re a Missouri fan of my age it’s shocking how comfortable we feel about even a down year not making the playoff and you still feel good,” Edwards said. “That’s a good place to be.”
