𝗨𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶 𝗧𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁

Missouri Tigers 2025 Season Preview: High Expectations, Sharpened Claws, and the Hunt for National Respect

The 2025 Missouri Tigers are not walking into the season — they’re charging in, with swagger, scars, and a hunger sharpened by recent near-misses and rising expectations.

After years of quietly building a winning foundation under the radar, the Tigers are now under the national spotlight, and for good reason. The roster is deep, the schedule is favorable, and the College Football Playoff whispers are growing louder in Columbia. But can this team finally roar loud enough to shake the SEC to its core?

The Defense: Fixing the Run or Facing the Fall

If there’s one theme head coach Eli Drinkwitz and his staff have drilled into every defensive meeting this offseason, it’s this: stop the run — or watch the season slip away.

The stats don’t lie. Missouri was manhandled by Alabama and Texas A&M last season, giving up over 200 rushing yards in both games and losing by a combined score of 75-10. Over the last three seasons, the Tigers are just 1-6 when allowing 200+ rushing yards. It’s a damning trend that must be reversed.

The good news? The Tigers return a strong front seven and welcome standout transfers like edge rusher Damon Wilson (from Georgia), who was one of the nation’s most coveted additions. Linebackers Triston Newson and Josiah Trotter are tackling machines, and safety Jalen Catalon brings SEC-tested toughness to the back end. There’s no room for softness in this league, especially not with Alabama looming in Week 5.

The Offense: Big Shoes, Big Plays, and a New QB Era

Offensively, the Tigers face a unique challenge — replacing a generational talent in wide receiver Luther Burden. The team knows there’s no direct substitute, but Kevin Coleman Jr. is as close as it gets. The senior wideout, who compiled 100 catches for 1,294 yards and 8 touchdowns across Louisville and Mississippi State, has the speed, hands, and experience to be the new go-to threat.

Leading the offense is Penn State transfer Beau Pribula, a poised senior quarterback with dual-threat ability and leadership intangibles. He may not have the national hype — yet — but his ability to command a balanced attack will be critical in tight games.

Running back Ahmad Hardy, a sophomore transfer from ULM, might end up being the most underrated pickup of the offseason. After torching defenses for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman, Hardy steps into a system designed for explosive plays and fourth-quarter domination — a strength of the 2024 team.

Key Game: September 20 vs. South Carolina

Circle it in red. The September 20 showdown against South Carolina isn’t just the SEC opener; it’s a revenge game and a tone-setter. The Gamecocks ended Missouri’s unbeaten run last season in a 34-30 thriller. This time, it’s in Columbia — Missouri’s Columbia — and it comes a week before Alabama rolls into town.

Win this one, and the Tigers build confidence heading into their biggest early test. Lose it, and doubts begin to creep in just as the toughest stretch of the season begins.

The Schedule: No Georgia, No Excuses

Let’s talk about opportunity. Unlike past years, Missouri avoids the nightmare matchups with Georgia, LSU, and Tennessee. Alabama remains the headline opponent, but the rest of the slate is manageable — at least on paper.

Road trips to Auburn, Oklahoma, and Arkansas present challenges, but none are unwinnable. Add in favorable home games against Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Texas A&M, and the Tigers have a legitimate path to double-digit wins and playoff consideration.

That’s why anything short of a 10-2 finish could be considered a letdown. Yes, curveballs are part of SEC life. Yes, close games can go either way. But with this roster and this schedule, this is the moment Missouri fans have waited for.

Top 10 Tigers to Watch

1. Cayden Green, OG Jr. – The anchor of the offensive line and the tone-setter in the trenches.

2. Triston Newson, LB Sr. – Defensive leader with a nose for the ball.

3. Ahmad Hardy, RB Soph. – Electric runner poised to be a star.

4. Josiah Trotter, LB Soph. – Brings sideline-to-sideline speed and raw power.

5. Damon Wilson, EDGE Jr. – The pass-rusher that could change everything.

6. Beau Pribula, QB Sr. – All eyes on the new QB to lead the charge.

7. Jalen Catalon, S Sr. – Veteran presence in a young secondary.

8. Kevin Coleman Jr., WR Sr. – The x-factor in the receiving corps.

9. Connor Tollison, C Sr. – The communicator and enforcer of the offensive line.

10. Marvin Burks, S Jr. – A rising star on the back end of the defense.

What’s At Stake?

For Missouri, 2025 isn’t about rebuilding. It’s not even about proving they belong. It’s about claiming their place among the SEC’s elite — not by words, but by wins.

They’ve got the quarterback. They’ve got the running game. They’ve got the pass rush. And they’ve got a schedule begging for a playoff contender to emerge from it.

Now all that’s left is execution — and staying healthy in a league that chews up and spits out the unprepared.

If the Tigers can stop the run, strike big when it matters, and avoid the pitfalls that have cost them in years past, the skies over Columbia might not just be filled with noise this fall — but with the roars of a program ready to take the next step.