Missouri Football Enters the Portal Era with Big Needs, Big Decisions
Welcome to the new normal in college football - where January isn't just for bowl games and coaching changes. It's now the heart of roster construction. And for Missouri, the next few weeks could define the trajectory of the program heading into 2026.
The college football transfer portal officially opens January 2-16, a significantly shorter window than in past years. With the spring portal window now eliminated, this is the only chance for teams to reshape their rosters before fall camp.
And while the window is tighter, the action is anything but limited. If anything, it’s more condensed, more chaotic - and more critical.
Missouri Already Feeling the Movement
As of December 29, nine Missouri players have announced their intention to enter the portal when it opens. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz has made it clear: more departures are likely.
But exits are only half the story. New additions are coming, and they’ll need to hit the ground running.
The Tigers wrapped up a disappointing 2025 season with an 8-5 record, capped by a 13-7 loss to Virginia in the Gator Bowl. It was a letdown for a team that, by Drinkwitz’s own admission, was his most talented roster since arriving in Columbia. Not a single win came against a team with a winning record - a stat that stings for a program that entered the year with high expectations.
Coaching Changes and a New Era on Offense
Change is already underway. Missouri brought in Chip Lindsey from Michigan to take over as offensive coordinator, replacing Kirby Moore, who left to become the head coach at Washington State. Lindsey inherits an offense in transition - and a quarterback room in flux.
There will be a new QB1 in Columbia next fall. Whether it’s true freshman Matt Zollers or a yet-to-be-named transfer, the Tigers will have a fresh face under center.
And that’s just the beginning. Expect new starters across the board - at nearly every position group.
Missouri has also invested in its future, extending Drinkwitz’s contract through 2031. That extension comes with a $4 million bump in the assistant coaching pool - a sign that the administration is backing its coach in a big way.
The Numbers Game: Budgeting in the NIL Era
Roster building in 2025 isn’t just about talent evaluation - it’s about financial strategy. Missouri, like every program, is operating within a new framework of revenue sharing and NIL budgets.
The Tigers are expected to have access to roughly $15 million from their share of the college athletics revenue pot, assuming the standard 75% allocation to football. That’s a significant chunk of change, but it’s not limitless - especially when paired with third-party NIL deals, which, while uncapped, are still subject to market realities.
Drinkwitz put it bluntly earlier this month: the days of pass-the-hat NIL fundraising are over. Programs now have to budget like businesses.
Every dollar spent on one player is a dollar not spent elsewhere. And that means tough choices are coming.
Roster Needs: Where Missouri Must Reload
Even if Missouri gets all three of its third-year draft-eligible players - Josiah Trotter, Cayden Green, and Damon Wilson II - back for another year, the list of needs is long.
The Tigers will need starters at:
- Quarterback
- Wide receiver
- Right tackle
- Center
- Defensive end
- Defensive tackle
- Linebacker
- Cornerback
- Safety
- Punter
That’s nearly every position on the field, with the exceptions being running back, tight end, and kicker.
Some of those holes could be filled internally. Players already on the roster may rise into bigger roles. But based on recent trends, Missouri is likely to bring in around 15 new players who’ll factor into the two-deep - and that number could climb north of 20 depending on NFL decisions and portal activity.
Key Returners and Staff Additions
One of the biggest wins for Missouri so far this offseason has been the expected return of several key pieces. Running back Ahmad Hardy, promising young quarterback Matt Zollers, and standout linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez are all slated to be back in 2026 - a strong foundation to build on.
On the personnel side, Missouri has added Jake Breske from Tennessee to lead player personnel and recruiting. Gaurav Verma, who joined in the summer, continues in his role as director of football strategy and finance - a key position in managing the Tigers’ NIL and roster budget strategy.
However, the Tigers did lose a major figure in their NIL infrastructure. Brad Larrondo, CEO of Every True Tiger Brands, left the program to return home and join Washington State. His departure leaves a significant void in Missouri’s NIL operations - one that will need to be addressed quickly.
Strategic Spending: Where Do You Invest?
This is where things get interesting. Missouri, like every program navigating this new era, has to make calculated decisions.
If you’ve got the budget to land one top-dollar player, do you spend it on a shutdown corner or a game-breaking wide receiver? Is it worth investing heavily in a defensive tackle over a right tackle?
And what if the quarterback you want comes with a price tag that risks thinning your depth elsewhere?
These are the decisions that will define Missouri’s offseason.
Wide receiver and cornerback stand out as the most pressing needs. The Tigers are losing nearly their entire snap share at both spots.
Linebacker is another priority, with potentially three of the top four in the rotation moving on. And if Missouri loses its top two defensive ends, that group becomes a must-fill as well.
And none of these positions come cheap - not if you’re targeting players with proven Power Five experience.
The Portal Isn’t Just About Talent - It’s a Chess Match
January is no longer just a recruiting month. It’s a strategic gauntlet. The programs that can identify the right fits, navigate the financial landscape, and move quickly will come out ahead.
Missouri’s staff knows that. And they’re leaning into it.
“What we're being asked to do has never been done in the history of college football before,” Drinkwitz said. “And, so, we're all kind of learning at the same time.”
The Tigers have talent. They have resources.
And now, they’ve got a tight window to make it all work. The next few weeks will be a masterclass in roster management - or a cautionary tale.
Let’s see how Missouri plays the game.