Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz speaks during SEC Football Media Days in Atlanta on Thursday. (Image courtesy: SECSports.com)

Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

ATLANTA, GA — As the first person to take the stage and speak on the final day of the SEC Football Media Days, University of Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz spoke on nearly every topic anyone could think of.

Drinkwitz talked about Disney World, a possible new College Football Playoff plan, things he did during the offseason, along with his team’s mission for the 2025 season, and the Tigers’ much-talked about quarterback competition.

The Missouri coach talked about it all. And he and everyone in the room had a whole lot of fun while he did it.

“Good morning, everyone. I was very excited about the opportunity to come to SEC Media Days which marks the end of vacation season, which is one of the two main reasons that I coach college football — free gear and vacations,” Drinkwitz said to begin the morning. “Now it’s on to football season. Based on what I’ve heard from the rest of the SEC coaches, it looks to be a really, really exciting upcoming football season, incredibly tough competition throughout.

“With that, I know there’s a lot of burning questions in this room by the 14 of y’all that showed up (smiling). Just as a reminder, I’m not going to answer any questions about the Epstein files, the Radiation Belt, [or] whether or not it was possible for Lee Harvey Oswald to get three shots off in seven seconds,” he said, “I will answer questions about Mizzou football.”

Senior safety Daylan Carnell will be entering his third season as a starter on the Mizzou defense in 2025. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

The rest of Mizzou’s media day made it clear the team understands there’s serious business to attend to this season.

“We want to make the College Football Playoff. We want to make the SEC Championship game. We want to compete for championships, as many as we can,” Mizzou senior safety Daylan Carnell said in his media appearance. “And for myself, I just want to leave it all out on the field. I’m excited about this year and what we can do this season.”

The Tigers, sporting one of the SEC’s most manageable schedules, have their eyes set on a first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. But Zion Young also brought up the one number on seemingly everyone’s mind entering the squad’s next campaign: 10.

“I feel like there’s more to come: I feel like another double-digit season is on the way,” he said, “I feel good, man.”

The 2025 team has the opportunity to do what two prior squads, 2009 and 2015, could not: record a third consecutive 10-win season for the first time in program history.

It’s clear that Mizzou’s players and coaching staff feel they have a defense built to do exactly that.

“They are fast and physical and every day, they bring it,” Mizzou center Connor Tollison, who’s returning in 2025 after suffering a season-ending knee injury late last season, said. “They ain’t got no off days.”

Young is also bullish about the defense, where he is expected to play a key role along the line: “The depth is unreal. Like you said, we’re really establishing a Death Row Defense,” he said. “I know you’ve all seen a lot of that last year and the year before that, but the best is yet to come and it’s on its way.”

But the team’s offense still has remaining questions, namely at the quarterback position – where the battle between Beau Pribula and Sam Horn is far from over.

After battling two season of injuries, junior Sam Horn will battle for the starting quarterback position at Mizzou this season. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

Horn’s fall to the 17th round of the MLB Draft, despite being a top-150 draft prospect in MLB Pipeline’s rankings, made his commitment to the gridiron and the quarterback battle clear.

“Sam has been adamant this whole time to compete and win the job in the SEC, play quarterback at the highest level,” Drinkwitz said. “I told him the day he got drafted I was proud of him, and I would see him at 6:30 workouts in the morning.”

The former four-star recruit has plenty of competition in Pribula, another blue-chipper who entered the spring as the presumed favorite after transferring in from Penn State.

“When we first talk about recruits, it’s all about the right fit for us: focus, intangibles, talent and tough, Drinkwitz said, “When you talk about the quarterback position, there are five traits you’re looking for. Beau had those traits.”

Even more focus, however, was set on avoiding the mistakes that sunk the 2024 squad’s CFP hopes.

The Tigers sport a 27-7 home record during Drinkwitz’s tenure as head coach and have gone an impressive 13-1 in Columbia the last two seasons, establishing Faurot Field as a formidable environment for opponents.

Senior defensive end Zion Young will be back for his second season as a starter on Mizzou’s defense this season. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

Missouri will begin training camp on July 28 with an eye on its 2025 season opener, a month later, on August 28 at Faurot Field against Central Arkansas.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be televised nationally on the SEC Network.

2025 MIZZOU TIGERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DateTimeAtOpponentLocationTVRadio
August 28, 2025 (Thursday)6:30 pmHomeCentral ArkansasFaurot FieldTiger Radio Network
September 6, 2025 (Saturday)2:30 pmHomeKansasFaurot FieldTiger Radio Network
September 13, 2025 (Saturday)3 pmHomeLouisianaFaurot FieldTiger Radio Network
September 20, 2025 (Saturday)TBDHomeSouth CarolinaFaurot FieldTBDTiger Radio Network
September 27, 2025 (Saturday)TBDHomeMassachusettsFaurot FieldTBDTiger Radio Network
October 11, 2025 (Saturday)TBDHomeAlabamaFaurot FieldTBDTiger Radio Network
October 18, 2025 (Saturday)TBDAwayAuburnAuburn, Ala. / Jordan-Hare StadiumTBDTiger Radio Network
October 25, 2025 (Saturday)TBDAwayVanderbiltNashville, Tenn. / FirstBank StadiumTBDTiger Radio Network
November 8, 2025 (Saturday)TBDHomeTexas A&MFaurot FieldTBDTiger Radio Network
November 15, 2025 (Saturday)TBDHomeMississippi StateFaurot FieldTBDTiger Radio Network
November 22, 2025 (Saturday)TBDAwayOklahomaNorman, Okla. / Memorial StadiumTBDTiger Radio Network
November 29, 2025 (Saturday)TBDAwayArkansasFayetteville, Ark. / Razorback StadiumTBDTiger Radio Network