Mississippi State is doing everything it can to make Saturday feel bigger than a normal September game.
The social media push has been relentless, the cowbells are getting their own spotlight, and the school is even trying to set a world record for noise. There’s also a white out planned, with the players set to wear all white. The Tigers are being cast as the villain, and Mississippi State seems perfectly happy to lean into it.
That energy makes sense. Missouri’s next opponent has already stacked up a couple of impressive results, beating Minnesota convincingly and then going on the road to upset South Carolina. One more win would move Mississippi State to 4-0, and it would also mark the first time the program has started 2-0 in SEC play since the 2014 season.
For Missouri, this is the point where the schedule starts to get real.
Mississippi State was supposed to be one of the more manageable SEC games on the calendar. That no longer looks so simple.
Kamario Taylor has turned into a college football sensation, with hype already building around him as a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2028 NFL Draft. He’ll be lined up against a Missouri defense that gave up two touchdowns of more than 50 yards against the Trojans.
“If we don’t limit their explosive plays, we are going to be in trouble. I think they’re the most explosive team in college,” Drinkwitz said.
At the start of the season, Missouri was favored by more than four points in Starkville. Now the Tigers are a six-point underdog. That shift says plenty about how Mississippi State has changed the conversation in a short time.
There’s also been movement on Missouri’s own side as SEC play arrives. Tristan Wilson has spent the past two seasons bouncing around different spots, but he’s settled in as the Tigers’ starting left guard in 2026. Against Troy, he was arguably Missouri’s best offensive lineman, and Drinkwitz praised the group after a rough opening stretch to the year.
“The offensive line played really well,” Drinkwitz said. They really did.
I thought our run game improved. The protection was great.
They were tremendous all night.“
That matters for a player like Wilson, who has stayed in the program and kept developing until his chance finally came.
Elsewhere, Missouri’s Olympic sports have been giving fans a lot to chew on. Cross country has already gone through a couple of regional tune-ups and handled business, but now the competition level is rising.
The Tigers are set to face a championship-caliber field that includes high-level SEC programs, along with teams from the Big Ten, ACC and regional mid-majors like Drake. It’s a real test and a useful measuring stick in the middle of the season.
Soccer, meanwhile, is still searching for answers after a 2-0 loss to Auburn. Lana Adams, the team’s leading scorer, played only eight minutes in the first half before creating a dangerous look from the edge of the box. Senior attacker Brianna Buels also forced a shot on goal while driving down the right side.
The problem is the same one that has been hanging over the Tigers all season: they haven’t been able to build a steady attack. Missouri finished with seven shots to Auburn’s 21, and only three of its attempts were on target. That’s a tough way to win games.
Back on the basketball side, Missouri fans can at least circle one thing: Evansville is next.
The Purple Aces bring a roster of 14 players, and most of them are very early in their college careers. Six are freshmen, one is a redshirt freshman, and five are sophomores or redshirt sophomores. They’ve also added a few transfers, including Gustav Winther, who started 21 games for Northern Illinois last season and averaged 8 points per game, Max Langenfeld, a lightly used wing from Florida Atlantic, and Makuei Riek, a wing forward with stops at UW-Milwaukee, Fairfield and Salt Lake City CC, where he averaged 13.5 points.
There were also notes on Missouri’s returning players from DataMizzou, including one that pointed to a player who could matter more than people realize. Before the recent additions, an estimated 10-15 mpg contributor was mentioned. The note also said Aaron has shown off his foot speed in workouts, describing it as HM-level, and that it has helped him get into the paint and spray passes at will - exactly the kind of skill set Missouri needs.
In Other News...
Mizzou Faces An Early SEC Test Fans Already Fear Could Expose Them
Week 4 brings an early measuring-stick Saturday for Missouri, with the Tigers headed to Mississippi State in one of four ranked SEC matchups on a slate that will start sorting contenders from pretenders. The full board also includes Texas at Tennessee, giving the conference a loaded day of high-profile games that should say plenty about where the league hierarchy is headed, even if September still leaves room for plenty of movement.
For Missouri, the trip is less about headlines than it is about proof, because a road game like this tends to reveal whether a teams strengths travel and whether the pressure of SEC play changes the picture. The matchup has already drawn expert predictions and betting angles, but the real tension is simple enough: can the Tigers handle an opponent that gives them an honest test, or will this be the kind of game that leaves fans wondering what the ceiling actually is? [Read more 🡒]
Texas Faces A Backfield Concern Right Before Week 4
Injury updates around the SEC already shaped up to be part of the Week 4 conversation on College GameDay, with ESPNs Pete Thamel laying out the status of several backs in the conference. Texas is expected to have Hollywood Smothers dress and try to go through an ankle injury, Ole Miss is bracing for the likely absence of Kewan Lacy because of a shoulder issue, and Floridas Eric Singleton Jr. is still headed toward a game-time call after his own ankle problem.
For Missouri, the attention turns to Ahmad Hardy, who has not practiced yet after surgery, leaving the Tigers to wait on a key piece as they move through the week. The timing matters because Missouri has already ruled him out for Saturdays game at Mississippi State, and the next step is about more than just pain tolerance, it is about whether he can get back on the field with enough ramp-up to be ready when the Tigers need him again. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Heads Into Another SEC Test With A New Lineup Problem
Missouri is heading into another SEC test with more shuffling to do on both sides of the ball. Defensive end Darris Smith was ruled out on the league availability and injury report for the game against Mississippi State, while star running back Ahmad Hardy and backup Malae Fonoti also showed up as out for the Tigers. It is the latest reminder that depth has become part of the week-to-week conversation as Missouri tries to keep its footing in conference play.
Smiths absence is especially notable because he had already been a key piece on the edge before getting hurt against Troy, and Missouri has to account for that loss while trying to steady a defense facing another physical opponent. Hardys status adds a different kind of pressure on the offense, since the Tigers are still waiting on his return timeline, and the backfield picture remains unsettled as Missouri looks for answers going into Saturday. [Read more 🡒]