Missouri Faces Crucial Offseason After Gator Bowl Loss, Eyes Transfer Portal and Key Returnees
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Gator Bowl loss wasn’t the ending Missouri wanted, but the work to shape the 2026 roster is already underway - and head coach Eli Drinkwitz isn’t wasting time.
Following the Tigers’ 13-7 defeat to Virginia on Saturday, there was at least one bright spot: sophomore linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez. He was everywhere on the field, racking up 15 total tackles and looking like a tone-setter for the defense. But in the ever-fluid world of college football, especially in 2025, even a player saying he’s coming back isn’t always a sure thing.
So, when Drinkwitz sat down postgame, he made a point to double-check - literally.
“We've got a really strong foundation. Nick's going to be back,” Drinkwitz said, before glancing over his shoulder to confirm. “You're going to be back, right?”
Rodriguez grinned and gave the answer every Mizzou fan wanted to hear: “Yeah.”
Rodriguez headlines a small but significant group of returnees Drinkwitz confirmed are locked in for 2026. Alongside him: standout running back Ahmad Hardy, promising freshman quarterback Matt Zollers, and defensive tackle Jalen Marshall. It’s not a long list, but it’s a foundation - and in this era of college football, that’s something.
The Roster Reset Begins
With the Gator Bowl now in the rearview, Missouri’s coaching staff is pivoting quickly to the next phase: figuring out who’s staying, who’s leaving, and who they need to bring in. Drinkwitz acknowledged that several players who suited up against Virginia won’t be back next season, some already having informed the staff of their intention to transfer.
“Starting tomorrow (Dec. 28), we'll finish up re-signing the current roster,” Drinkwitz said. “There’s guys that already told us they were going to transfer, but they wanted to play tonight. We really appreciate those guys finishing.”
That appreciation speaks to the culture Missouri has been trying to build - one where players still go to battle for their teammates and coaches, even as they prepare to move on. But it also underscores the reality: the Tigers are entering a critical stretch in the transfer portal cycle.
Quarterback Questions and Portal Priorities
One of the biggest offseason questions for Missouri is at quarterback. With starter Beau Pribula among nine confirmed departures, the position is wide open.
Zollers, a true freshman, showed flashes but still looks like a developmental prospect rather than a plug-and-play QB1. That puts quarterback squarely atop the Tigers’ portal shopping list.
And that’s just the beginning.
There’s still no official word on whether several draft-eligible players - defensive end Damon Wilson II, linebacker Josiah Trotter, and left tackle Cayden Green - will declare for the NFL or return for another year. Each decision could significantly impact Missouri’s offseason priorities.
Beyond that, the Tigers are set to lose a slew of starters and key contributors due to graduation or eligibility. The list includes both starting corners, a free safety, two defensive tackles, two linebackers, a slot receiver, and multiple offensive linemen. That’s a lot of holes to fill - and a lot of snaps to replace.
Transfer Portal Strategy: Reload, Not Rebuild
The good news? Missouri has been here before.
Drinkwitz and his staff have navigated the portal well in recent seasons, finding impact players and building depth. The blueprint remains the same: retain what you can, replace what you lose, and upgrade where possible.
“Once we have kind of a final feel of where that is, then we'll go attack the portal and build a new team,” Drinkwitz said. “That's college football now.
Every team's looking to rebuild their roster post bowl games, post coaching changes, whatever. That's what we'll do.”
That mindset is key in an era where roster turnover isn’t just expected - it’s inevitable. The portal officially opens for entries from Jan. 2-16, and Missouri is expected to be active.
More Scholarships, More Movement
One wrinkle in this year’s roster math: the SEC is moving back to a 105-scholarship limit in 2026, up from the current 85. That means schools like Missouri can bring in more players, and the Tigers are likely to take full advantage.
By the numbers, the influx of new faces could be significant. Based on eligibility alone, Missouri has 75 scholarship players who could return. But with departures for the NFL, portal entries, and natural attrition, the Tigers could be looking at 20-plus newcomers before spring ball.
And in the NIL and revenue-sharing era, that kind of roster churn comes with a price tag.
Programs now have $20.5 million in revenue to share directly with athletes - across all sports. That’s not a bottomless well, especially when trying to retain top-tier talent like Hardy and Rodriguez. It also explains why Drinkwitz has been vocal about securing additional funding streams as he negotiated his own contract extension.
What Comes Next
So what does Missouri’s offseason look like from here?
First, the Tigers will finalize which current players are re-signing and returning. Expect announcements to come quickly. Then, it’s all about the portal - identifying needs, targeting impact players, and filling out the roster.
Drinkwitz believes the core is strong.
“I think we've got a really good foundation in the trenches. We got a really good foundation in the skill positions,” he said. “So, it's about filling in the holes, sustaining the culture.”
That culture, he emphasized, is something players like Rodriguez, Hardy, Zollers, and Marshall will be counted on to uphold. It’s the legacy left behind by veterans like graduating center Connor Tollison - and it’s the standard Missouri will try to maintain even as the roster evolves.
“Nothing good comes easy,” Drinkwitz said. “It will be a fight to the finish here, or a fight to finish off re-signing our team, and then we'll go to work. That's what we'll do.”
The Gator Bowl may have ended in disappointment, but Missouri’s next season starts now. And in today’s college football, the offseason is where contenders are made.