What Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz said about Tigers’ offensive coordinator search
Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz was asked Tuesday who on his staff would call plays in the upcoming Gator Bowl, in the wake of offensive coordinator Kirby Moore’s departure for the head coaching role at Washington State.
It’ll come down to a coin flip, Drinkwitz said with his usual deadpan humor at his weekly news conference.
“Each play just the coin, see whoever wants it,” Drinkwitz said.
In actuality, though, Drinkwitz told reporters in Columbia his staff is putting a plan together without Moore.
“Staff collaboration is probably one of the best things we do here in how we design and operate game plans,” Drinkwitz said. “So we put it together, and then somebody’s gotta call it and call it the way that they do. We’ll work through that the rest of this week as we’re going through who’s calling, talking to the quarterback, all that stuff.”
Moore was announced as the Cougars’ head coach late last week after three seasons in Columbia. Under Moore, Mizzou’s offense hit its stride in the 2023 Cotton Bowl-winning season.
That year, the Tigers averaged 434 yards per game. Quarterback Brady Cook threw for 2,535 yards and Cody Schrader recorded a record-setting 1,627 yards on the ground.
Drinkwitz also said Moore wouldn’t be with Mizzou for its bowl game against Virginia on Dec. 27, wishing the Washington native well and saying he “certainly left it better than he found it.”
Missouri, now, turns its full attention to Virginia.
“I’ve been adamant with this, with our team, with our players, everybody who’s in this building’s focus has to be: What do we (need) to do to win the ballgame?” Drinkwitz said. “And with Kirby getting his opportunity, my entire focus for the last 72 hours has been preparing and getting this offense in the best position possible for us to win.”
Drinkwitz said after the bowl game prep was finalized, the team would then “move on to the hiring of an offensive coordinator.”
What will that position look like?
Missouri’s offense has dipped since that 2023 season. The Tigers averaged 389 yards per game in 2024, then increased that total to just over 429 yards largely thanks to breakout running back Ahmad Hardy. He was named a first-team All-American this season.
This year’s Tigers hit a wall when SEC play started, though, averaging only 23.6 points per game. Missouri averaged 35.9 PPG in conference play in 2023.
Drinkwitz also highlighted the Tigers’ passing struggles. They averaged 169 passing yards in their four SEC-game defeats. Beau Pribula began the year as the starter, before freshman Matt Zollers took over due to injury.
What has stayed consistent between those two vastly different seasons has been the run game, led by Schrader in 2023 and Hardy in 2025. The Tigers led the SEC in rushing yards by averaging 234.1 in 2025, which was actually more than 2023’s 172.8.
“We threw the ball really well in ‘23,” Drinkwitz said. “I’m not sure whatever the reason was, the regression for us the last two years and throwing the football. So all I’m saying is that we’ll still have an identity running the outside zone. But if somebody comes in and they want to emphasize the counter or the inside zone or power, so be it. We’ll be fine. I’m not going to put any restrictions on the new offensive coordinator.”
Drinkwitz also mentioned controlling tempo, having a “dominant downhill run game, vertical pass game and being able to execute critical situations” as part of his OC wishlist.
Another area to get cleaned up? Third-down conversions.
The Tigers ranked No. 25 in FBS in conversion rate (46.3%) but went just 14-for-55 on third down in losses.
“We’ve got to get that corrected and cleaned up,” Drinkwitz said. “I think we’ve got a pretty strong foundation of how we run the football, but we’ve got to improve. That’s where I’ll look.”
