Mizzou Tigers talk playoffs, QBs & rivalries: ‘We all have a chip on our shoulder’

Missouri took the stage at SEC Media Days with a confident message: belief in its identity, its locker room and the momentum from 21 wins over the past two seasons.

Represented by head coach Eli Drinkwitz, defensive leaders safety Daylan Carnell and edge rusher Zion Young and center Connor Tollison, the Tigers used their time in Atlanta to reflect on their progress — and to make it clear that they don’t see themselves as underdogs heading into 2025.

“We might be a little bit undertalked about,” Carnell said. “But we’ll let the pads do the talking.”

From roster turnover to playoff expansion to Missouri’s long-awaited home matchup with Kansas, the Tigers had plenty to say. Here are the top takeaways.

College Football Playoff format

Drinkwitz didn’t shy away from offering his thoughts on the evolving College Football Playoff, emphasizing that any format — 12, 14, or 16 teams — should prioritize the players and the fans.

“If we decided to go into this expansion of playoffs, we’re trying to follow an NFL model,” Drinkwitz said. “We’re talking about 12 teams? That’s only 9% of college football. That doesn’t really change the math for fan bases.”

Instead, Drinkwitz pitched a broader format that could open up championship contention to as many as 30 teams, allowing more programs, players and fan bases to stay engaged late in the season.

“The more people you include, the more meaningful football you get to play,” he said. “And that’s what it should be about.”

SEC playing 8 vs. 9 conference games

After years of debate among coaches and administrators, the SEC is still undecided on whether to move to a nine-game conference schedule. For Drinkwitz, the answer is straightforward — if the goal is to serve fans and players.

“If it’s about player experience and fan experience, then it’s nine games,” he said. “If it’s about coach preservation, hey, I get it.”

Drinkwitz acknowledged that the selection process for the expanded Playoff will be handled by a human committee. In his mind, that makes strength of schedule all the more important — and it gives the edge to programs that embrace tougher slates.

“If we stay at eight, and you’re letting 11 humans decide who gets in ... , we’re not getting in,” he said.

Mizzou’s roster construction

Missouri enters the 2025 season with 38 new scholarship players — a mix of 21 transfer additions and 17 high school signees. It’s the latest sign of the shifting landscape of college football, but Drinkwitz said the Tigers are adapting just fine.

“We value production over potential,” Drinkwitz said, noting that Missouri returns 20 players on defense and 12 on offense who have started at least one collegiate game. “We built a roster to compete this season.”

To accelerate team chemistry, Missouri took a service trip to Harmons, Jamaica, in May, with 41 players and 15 staff members volunteering in the rural community. There, players built homes, repaired roofs and faced shared adversity — without football or air conditioning.

“It changed us,” Drinkwitz said. “It made us realize how thankful we are for the opportunities we have.”

Program momentum

Missouri has won 21 games across the past two seasons and is aiming for a third consecutive 10-win campaign — something no Tigers team has ever done. Fifth-year defensive back Daylan Carnell said the sustained success is no accident.

“Coach Drink always tells us, there’s no bad team, just bad leaders,” Carnell said. “And the last two years, our leadership has been way better. That’s reflected in our record.”

Drinkwitz, entering his fifth year in Columbia, leaned into the “something to prove” mantra once again.

“We all have a chip on our shoulder,” he said. “But in the fourth quarter, it’s not about that. It’s about belief — belief in each other, in our brotherhood, in how we compete.”

Carnell said he and Connor Tollison were reminded by Drinkwitz that with another double-digit season, they’ll graduate as the most winning class in school history.

Quarterback competition

The Tigers have not yet named a starting quarterback for the 2025 season, but the battle between returning junior Sam Horn and Penn State transfer Beau Pribula is well underway.

“Beau came in with the right mindset,” Drinkwitz said. “Nothing given, everything earned. He’s got the right chip on his shoulder.”

Horn, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this month, but Drinkwitz confirmed the dual-sport athlete is committed to football this fall.

“Nothing’s changed,” Drinkwitz said. “He’s been adamant the whole time — he wants to compete and win the job in the SEC.”

Tollison, Missouri’s veteran center, said the competition is elevating both players.

“It just pushes each of them,” Tollison said. “Each one’s raising their level, and the other’s gotta follow — or get left behind.”

Portal additions

Missouri made several key additions in the transfer portal this offseason — headlined by five-star transfer prospect Damon Wilson II, former Arkansas and Texas safety Jalen Catalon and former Louisiana-Monroe running back Ahmad Hardy.

Also new are St. Louis native wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr., who transferred from Mississippi State, and former Penn State quarterback Pribula.

The Tigers will have a lot of new faces making plays in 2025.

“Catalon’s instincts, his feel for the game — it jumps out,” Drinkwitz said. “He’s incredibly tough. He’s going to bring a lot of communication and experience to our secondary.”

Tollison said Hardy “has that juice” and brings a dynamic burst to Missouri’s outside zone scheme. Carnell called Coleman “probably the toughest cover” he’s faced in practice this offseason.

“I think Kevin’s going to have a real big year,” Carnell said. “He’s a dude.”

Tollison will be ready to go for Week 1

After missing spring ball while rehabbing a leg injury, Tollison said he’s on track for a full return by Missouri’s season opener.

“I’m at about 85% right now,” Tollison said. “Running and jumping has been good — I just need a little more strength back.”

Tollison expects to gradually ramp up during fall camp, likely with a snap count in place at the start. Still, he anticipates starting in Week 1.

“This injury hasn’t been too bad,” he said. “I’ve played through things before. It’s just part of the journey.”

The redshirt junior has embraced a leadership role on a rebuilt offensive line that includes multiple newcomers, including transfers Johnny Williams IV, Dominick Giuidice and Keagen Trost.

“We’ve spent a lot of time together outside of football,” Tollison said. “That’s how you build those bonds — and I think we’ve done a really good job of that.”

Border War renewal vs. Kansas

For the first time since 2011, Missouri will host longtime rival Kansas in football — a renewal of one of the most storied rivalries in college athletics.

For Drinkwitz, the meaning runs deeper than just another nonconference game.

“The origins of our football name — the Tigers — is based off the militia that was formed to protect Columbia from people from Kansas,” Drinkwitz said. “This one goes back a long way. It’s very deep.”

The Tigers have been preparing for the matchup both on the field and in the classroom. Tollison said the team has heard from historians and former Mizzou players, including Andy Hill, who reminded them just how personal the rivalry is.

“Nobody likes those guys, and we don’t really like them either,” Tollison said. “I didn’t grow up a huge Missouri fan, but I went to the basketball games. I got it pretty quick — we don’t like Kansas.”

Carnell echoed the sentiment.

“That game’s going to be loud,” he said. “We’re going to be ready.”

Young’s SEC Media Days homecoming

For edge rusher Zion Young, SEC Media Days meant more than just interviews. It meant coming home.

An Atlanta native and Westlake High School graduate, Young relished the opportunity to represent Missouri on one of college football’s biggest offseason stages.

“I didn’t think I’d get picked for this,” Young said. “It feels unreal ... , but it means everything.”

Young — who scored the game-winning touchdown on a scoop-and-score against Oklahoma last fall — was praised by teammates and coaches alike for his vocal leadership and infectious energy.

“I bring this energy every day,” he said with a grin. “You can’t rehearse that.”

Copyright 2025 Columbia Missourian

This story was originally published July 18, 2025 at 11:33 AM.