Missouri Football 2025: A Tale of Two Sides-and One Big What-If
The 2025 Missouri Tigers were a team of contrasts. On one side of the ball, they were among the most dominant defensive units in the Power 4.
On the other, their offense sputtered down the stretch, derailed by injuries and inconsistency. And yet, they still managed to win eight games-without a reliable kicker or punter, no less.
Let’s break down how it all unfolded and what the numbers tell us about the Tigers’ season.
Offense: A Promising Start, Then the Wheels Came Off
Missouri’s offense actually looked pretty solid through the first two-thirds of the season. As of October 25, the Tigers ranked 26th in total offense, 18th in success rate, and 39th in points per scoring opportunity. That’s not elite, but it’s certainly good enough to win games in the SEC-especially when paired with a top-tier defense.
Then came the turning point.
On October 25, starting quarterback Beau Pribula suffered a significant ankle injury against Vanderbilt. From that point forward, the offense took a noticeable dip.
Freshman Matt Zollers stepped in, and while he showed flashes of potential, the unit as a whole became more predictable and less effective. The drop-off was clear.
Missouri went from a balanced, if unspectacular, offense to one that struggled to sustain drives and finish possessions.
The run game, which had been a strength, also took a hit post-Vanderbilt. It dropped from a Top 20 unit to just inside the Top 30 over the final four games.
Still, that’s not a disaster-especially considering Missouri finished the season ranked second nationally in defensive yards per carry allowed after contact. That kind of toughness in the trenches is exactly what head coach Eli Drinkwitz preaches.
But the passing game? That’s where things got ugly.
Passing Game: A Glaring Weak Spot
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Missouri’s passing attack was one of the worst in the country by season’s end. They ranked 100th in yards per dropback (5.9) and 119th in successful dropback rate (13.6%).
To put that in perspective, every time a Missouri quarterback dropped back to throw, they gained less than six yards on average-including yards from penalties. That’s not just inefficient-that’s unsustainable.
Both Pribula and Zollers struggled to generate chunk plays through the air. The offense lacked explosiveness in both standard and passing downs, making it easier for defenses to key in on the run game. And when you’re one-dimensional in the SEC, life gets hard in a hurry.
The silver lining? Running backs Nate Hardy and Marcus Roberts still managed to produce despite the lack of aerial support. But if Missouri wants to take the next step, they’ll need to find a way to stretch the field and relieve some of that pressure on the ground game.
Defense: Elite, Even in the Details
Now let’s talk about the real engine behind Missouri’s 2025 season: the defense.
Led by coordinator Corey Batoon, the Tigers were consistently excellent on that side of the ball. They ranked among the best in the country in standard downs, passing downs, and rushing defense.
Even more impressive? They finished second nationally in defensive yards per carry after contact-a stat that speaks volumes about their physicality and discipline.
Yes, they had some bad turnover luck. And yes, when opponents did manage to get into scoring position, they often came away with points (allowing 4.16 points per scoring opportunity). But those are small blemishes on an otherwise outstanding resume.
Missouri’s pass defense, in particular, deserves a spotlight. Despite concerns throughout the year about giving up big plays, the numbers tell a different story.
The Tigers finished 12th nationally in overall pass defense, down slightly from 8th the year before. But they improved in key metrics like Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt (ANY/A), yards per snap allowed through the air, and limiting 20+ yard completions.
That’s a testament to Batoon’s ability to coach up a rotating cast of corners-many of them short-term transfers.
Third Downs: The Hidden Key
If you’re looking for the secret sauce behind Missouri’s eight wins, look no further than third down. For most of the season, the Tigers were elite on both sides of the ball in those pivotal moments.
Offensively, they were efficient enough to keep drives alive. Defensively, they routinely got off the field.
That kind of performance in money-down situations can swing close games-and it did. Especially when you factor in the absence of a consistent kicking or punting game.
Missouri didn’t have the luxury of flipping field position or banking on three points from 45 yards out. They had to earn it the hard way.
The Big Picture: A Bridge Year with Promise?
So where does that leave us heading into 2026?
Missouri’s 2025 campaign was, in many ways, a classic Eli Drinkwitz season: physical, methodical, and built around field position and defense. The offense had its moments early, but injuries and inexperience caught up down the stretch. Still, there’s reason for cautious optimism.
The Tigers return their top two offensive playmakers and will look to rebuild what was an elite defense with a fresh crop of talent-many of them coming via the transfer portal. Whether that mix gels in time to make another Playoff push remains to be seen. But if Missouri can find even average quarterback play and continue to dominate on defense, they’ll be a tough out for anyone.
Bottom line: Missouri wasn’t fully optimized in 2025 and still won eight games. That says something.
The pieces are there. Now it’s a matter of putting them together.