16-in-16 2024: Missouri Tigers
Mizzou broke through in 2023 with an 11-2 season. Can they keep up the momentum in 2024?
By: Bossman Slim
For a refresher on our ratings system, check out our 16-in-16 ratings guide here.
2023 was the year of standing on business for Mizzou and a breakthrough year for Eli Drinkwitz. After never breaking the .500 mark and going 17-19 in his first three seasons at the helm, Drinkwitz and the Tigers put up an 11-2 mark last season, capping the year with a Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State. With a ton of returning production, Missouri is primed for a run at the playoff if they can get through a difficult schedule.
State of the Program: 9/12 biscuits. Dark horse to win the conference; Pillsbury Golden Flaky layers. Very good, and with a few more layers could be elite.
Before last season, we gave Mizzou 6/12 biscuits, which meant it was basically a make-or-break year for Eli Drinkwitz. Go .500 again and you’re squarely on the hot seat. However, with a breakthrough year that would give some hope to the fanbase, they were right on the edge of earning some extra biscuits.
The Tigers answered the call in spades, going 11-2 and losing only to Georgia and LSU on the year and vanquishing the likes of Florida, Tennessee, and Ohio State. With 71% of production returning, including QB Brady Cook (who made significant strides last season) and first-team All-SEC WR Luther Burden, the Tigers are primed for a serious run at the playoff.
The question marks are on replacing RB Cody Schrader (1,627 yards, 125 YPG, 14 TDs) who had an incredible season last year, earning first-team SEC honors and All-American honors, and on the defensive side of the ball. Mizzou lost some serious talent from last year’s top 25 defense, including two of their top three tacklers and their top two corners in Kris Abrams-Draine and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. To address this, Drinkwitz and Co. went hard in the portal, picking up five defensive lineman and three linebackers, and also plucked one of the top corners in the portal from Clemson, Toriano Pride Jr.
With all of those factors, plus the buy-in from the Missouri administration and fanbase, Missouri is set up for success this season and beyond. It seems that everyone is aligned in Columbia behind Drinkwitz, as the school announced earlier this year they would be doing a $250 million renovation of Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.
Now the pressure is on to keep producing and put the pedal to the metal.
What went right in 2023?
A whole helluva a lot. It all finally came together for Drinkwitz in year four as the offense and defense stepped up their game. We can start with Brady Cook, who improved significantly and took control of the team. Cook improved his stats year over year in nearly every category, but his 3,317 yards and 21 TDs through the air were the most impressive. He came into his own as a true dual threat and could beat you with his arm or his legs. That should only continue this season, especially with his top six wide receivers returning. The offense hummed with Cook, Shrader, and Burden leading the way. On defense, the team improved from 56th in total defense in 2022 to 25th in 2023, which helped them squeak out games against Florida, Memphis, and Kansas State. That will be tested this year with some new faces and a new defensive coordinator in Corey Batoon, following the departure of Blake Baker to LSU.
What went wrong in 2023?
We just gave the Tigers a glowing review, and even with the things that went wrong, there were positives to take from it. With only two blemishes on the record, it’s hard to nitpick. However, the Tigers had mighty Georgia on the ropes in Athens, and you wish that you could have those two late picks back. The Tigers had a real chance to take down a titan late in the game and they let it go. That’s part of stepping into the upper echelon of a conference, though - you have to learn how to win those games and step on the throat of a giant when you get the opportunity. That’s something Mizzou will need this year, especially with a tougher schedule.
What the Tigers need in 2024
Build on the momentum from last season. The biggest thing I see that needs to come together for Mizzou in 2024 is the defense. New coordinator, new faces. There are a few stalwarts returning on defense including Joseph Charleston, Johnny Walker and Dreydon Norwood, but with multiple transfers and new starters on defense, they’ll need to mesh well for the Tigers to make a run at the new 12-team playoff. I’m not worried about a dropoff in production from the offense with all of that returning firepower. With the Tigers' schedule, they should start out 4-0 going into a showdown with Texas A&M on October 5th in College Station. That’s when we’ll really see what the 2024 Mizzou team is made of, and then the end of the season will be tough to get wins every single week. This is the SEC, after all.
How they can earn some extra biscuits
With the schedule and the questions on defense, I think it will be tough for the Tigers to earn some extra biscuits this year. I can see them holding pat at nine or taking a step back to eight. They also have the potential to make the playoff and if they do, they can earn an extra biscuit or two as they knock on the door of elite status in the conference. Get a few wins out of Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Auburn, and you’re likely going to be around 9-3 or 10-2, putting you in serious consideration for an extra biscuit.
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