Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz has his Tigers at 6-1 and back in the national Top 25 rankings, following last Saturday’s win at Kentucky. (Photo courtesy: Michelle Haas Hutchins – freelancer, ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Terrance Williams
Staff Writer
Following Saturday’s glorious win on the road at SEC rival and No. 23-ranked Kentucky this past Saturday, the University of Missouri football team got some news many expected Monday morning, when it was announced that the Tigers had returned to the college football Top 25.
In fact, Missouri is ranked at No. 20 in both national polls. The US LBM coaches poll (formerly the USA Today coaches poll) came out on Sunday and Mizzou was No. 20. Then on Monday, the Associated Press writers poll came out and they had the Tigers at No. 20 as well.
This is the second time Missouri has been listed in the Top 25 this season. Earlier this year, the Tigers were ranked No. 21, but fell out of that slot following a 49-39 loss to then-No. 23 LSU.
Mizzou might have a chance to move even higher in the polls in the coming weeks, should it continue to do well on the field. The Tigers will host South Carolina this Saturday for its Homecoming Game at Faurot Field. Then, following a week off, Mizzou will play top-ranked and two-time defending national champion Georgia on November 4.
If the Tigers were to pull off victories in those two games, they would likely skyrocket into the Top 10 and possibly even somewhere near the very top of the poll. Missouri will also play Tennessee, Florida, and Arkansas in the regular season, before moving on to a bowl game in December.
Week 8 – Associated Press NCAA College Football Top 25 Poll
| RANK | SCHOOL | POINTS | PREVIOUS | RECORD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia (43) | 1,541 | 1 | 7-0 |
| 2 | Michigan (16) | 1,492 | 2 | 7-0 |
| 3 | Ohio State (1) | 1,393 | 3 | 6-0 |
| 4 | Florida State (1) | 1,388 | 4 | 6-0 |
| 5 | Washington (2) | 1,355 | 7 | 7-0 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | 1,277 | 5 | 6-0 |
| 7 | Penn State | 1,253 | 6 | 6-0 |
| 8 | Texas | 1,098 | 9 | 5-1 |
| 9 | Oregon | 1,034 | 8 | 5-1 |
| 10 | North Carolina | 1,011 | 12 | 6-0 |
| 11 | Alabama | 987 | 11 | 6-1 |
| 12 | Oregon State | 834 | 15 | 6-1 |
| 13 | Ole Miss | 825 | 13 | 5-1 |
| 14 | Utah | 695 | 16 | 5-1 |
| 15 | Notre Dame | 664 | 21 | 6-2 |
| 16 | Duke | 593 | 17 | 5-1 |
| 17 | Tennessee | 557 | 19 | 5-1 |
| 18 | Southern Cal | 530 | 10 | 6-1 |
| 19 | LSU | 493 | 22 | 5-2 |
| 20 | Missouri | 365 | 20 | 6-1 |
| 21 | Louisville | 309 | 13 | 6-1 |
| 22 | Air Force | 245 | NR | 6-0 |
| 23 | Tulane | 137 | NR | 5-1 |
| 24 | Iowa | 125 | NR | 6-1 |
| 25 | UCLA | 122 | 18 | 4-2 |
Others receiving votes: James Madison 70, Clemson 35, Florida 12, Washington St. 11, Fresno St. 6, Liberty 5, Kentucky 4, Wyoming 4, Kansas 2, West Virginia 1, Oklahoma St. 1, Miami 1.