Why Mizzou feels prepared for 1st road game — thanks to a closed-doors scrimmage

The first trip on the road rocked Missouri last season.

The Tigers traveled to College Station, Texas, with a 4-0 record, but left with a 41-10 loss to Texas A&M.

The road became a constant challenge for Mizzou throughout the season. It later dropped games at Alabama and South Carolina. MU’s only away win came against Mississippi State near the end of the year.

“In a road game, you can’t ease into it. You look at our poor performances last year, three of them on the road,” coach Eli Drinkwitz said in August. “We were really, really slow, and that can’t happen.”

This time around, the Tigers are heading into their first road matchup with more confidence. The team took a trip to Lindenwood in St. Charles back in August to scrimmage in a closed practice and simulate a road environment.

Missouri has already played its first away game, in Drinkwitz’s view. The Lindenwood trip helped prepare the Tigers for an atmosphere away from Memorial Stadium, which was crucial even with Missouri beginning the year with six straight home games.

“This isn’t the first road game. We took our road game in August,” Drinkwitz said. “So, we’re prepared for it. We know what to expect. We’re not going to have that as an excuse.”

The Mizzou staff felt that was all the preparation it needed, and a big step forward from what it did before Texas A&M. College Station is notoriously difficult to play in.

“I think last year, our first road game kind of surprised us. I know it surprised me,” left tackle Cayden Green said. “I didn’t know what to expect, being a transfer, being at a new school. I think now we just kind of know what to expect.”

Especially for the young talent on the Missouri roster, the Lindenwood trip established what playing an away game looks like. Even the new faces from the transfer portal, in a lot of cases, haven’t seen what that looks like in the Southeastern Conference.

But the veterans and team captains know. Throughout the trip and now, in the days leading up to the matchup with Auburn at 6:45 p.m. Saturday, those are the players who Drinkwitz has leaned on as role models.

“The squad we have now is a good mix of young guys and older guys. So, I have to show the younger guys what it looks like to go on the road and what the expectations are,” McClellan said. “I feel like Drink allows the captains and the seniors to be leaders for that.

“The Lindenwood trip was big time. I’ve never done anything like that in my career. That was good to have that experience for the young guys that have never traveled before.”

Coming off their first defeat of the year against Alabama last Saturday, the Tigers will look to ensure the road environment won’t be as formidable as it was a year ago.

Eli Drinkwitz refutes Kirby Moore report

Rumors are running rampant across the college football landscape. The firing of former Penn State coach James Franklin on Sunday has led to some speculation Drinkwitz could be a candidate as a replacement. Several other active coaches, such as Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, have also been mentioned.

Drinkwitz said he ignores the outside noise and is focused solely on Mizzou football and finding ways to get better.

“I’ll bet every sitting head coach has been listed as a candidate for some job so far,” Drinkwitz said. “As a team, as a coach, you gotta ignore the noise and focus on the things we can control, which is winning and losing football games.”

Drinkwitz said he takes the rumors as evidence of the success Missouri has been having over the last few years. People on the outside are starting to take note of the program, and him being listed as a candidate for other jobs is just further proof.

“As far as my name associated with everything, that’s awesome for the University of Missouri,” Drinkwitz said. “It means we’re doing something really good. It means that our administration is committed to excellence. ... Has nothing to do with me. Has everything to do with the players and the support staff.”

Drinkwitz also pushed back against a report from On3’s Riley McFerran last week that offensive coordinator Kirby Moore had accepted an interview for Arkansas’ vacant head coaching position. The Razorbacks fired Sam Pittman on Sept. 28 and promoted Bobby Petrino as the interim coach.

“It was really unfortunate that Kirby’s name got associated to something that was a complete lie. He never interviewed. Didn’t talk to anybody at Arkansas,” Drinkwitz said. “It’s a bunch of bullcrap put out there to try to create distractions and a narrative that then comes over after the fact, after the game. And it’s really disappointing that this stuff happens.”

Ahmad Hardy, Josiah Trotter receive recognition

Running back Ahmad Hardy was named the first KIA Player of the Month of the season by the College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday. The poll is voted on by fans and factored in his performances from September.

Through six games, Hardy has accumulated 782 rushing yards on 115 carries for an average of 6.8 yards per carry. He has scored nine touchdowns, including two three-score performances against Louisiana and UMass.

The Lombardi Committee named linebacker Josiah Trotter to its midseason award watch list, which consists of 54 of the the country’s top linemen and linebackers. The Lombardi Award is presented to a player at the position that “best epitomizes his values of leadership, courage, performance and discipline on and off the field.”

Trotter has notched 36 tackles, six TFLs and four QB hurries in his first year at Mizzou.

Copyright 2025 Columbia Missourian

This story was originally published October 16, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Why Mizzou feels prepared for 1st road game — thanks to a closed-doors scrimmage."