The 2026-2027 Mizzou men’s basketball schedule is officially out, and it does not leave much room to breathe.
Missouri’s slate is packed with heavy hitters, including 15 NCAA Tournament teams from last season and 12 opponents ranked in ESPN’s Preseason Top 25. That kind of schedule gives the Tigers plenty of chances to build a strong NCAA Tournament résumé through Quad 1 and 2 opportunities.
The non-conference portion brings plenty of marquee names. Mizzou’s neutral-site games include SLU, Marquette, Kansas, Nebraska, and Illinois, and the Tigers also have a true road trip to Indiana. The only non-conference home game against a power conference opponent is Pittsburgh in the SEC/ACC Challenge.
Conference play begins Jan. 2 at Arkansas, and Missouri will get five of its nine SEC home games on Saturdays. That should give Mizzou Arena a few especially lively dates once league play gets rolling.
The SEC released the conference schedule Monday, finishing out Missouri’s 31-game regular-season slate as Dennis Gates heads into his fifth season. The Tigers are ranked No. 21 in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25, and after back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, they’re set to face another brutal path.
The exhibition schedule is set, too. Missouri will play at Kansas State on Oct. 23 and at UNLV on Oct. 29.
Last week, Mizzou also announced its fall camp schedule. Camp begins Aug. 2, with media availability from Eli Drinkwitz, the offensive and defensive coaches, and select players. Coverage of preseason camp is expected throughout the lead-up.
On the wrestling side, the program is marking the end of one era and the continuation of another. Together, O’Toole and Askren represent two different eras that helped define Tiger Style.
Askren laid the foundation for the Tigers’ rise on the national stage, while O’Toole carried that tradition forward by becoming one of the sport’s most consistent champions. As one legend continues a new chapter on Mizzou’s coaching staff and another officially closes an unforgettable competitive career, their combined impact will continue to shape the Tigers’ culture for years to come.
It’s an end of an era for two Mizzou Wrestling legends, though fans will still see O’Toole in black and gold in his second year as a coach.
In Other News...
Drinkwitz Just Raised The Biggest Border War Question Yet
The Border War is back on the calendar, and Missouris win over Kansas last fall only sharpened the appetite for more. The two programs are already lined up to meet again this season, with additional games on the books in 2031 and 2032, giving the rivalry at least a little more runway after years of absence.
Eli Drinkwitz made clear he sees the matchup as bigger than a one-off nonconference date, stressing how much it means to both fan bases and how much he wants the series to keep going. The catch, as he noted, is that future meetings depend on both schools agreeing, which leaves the long-term shape of one of college footballs oldest rivalries still hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Suddenly Has A Huge Question Hanging Over Its Defensive Line
Sterling Webbs name has become a lot more important around Columbia than it was a few weeks ago. After four collegiate seasons, including two at New Mexico State, the former Mizzou defensive tackle is now at the center of a roster issue that could shape how the Tigers look up front in 2026, especially after he was such a steady part of the defense last season.
Webbs production gave Missouri real value on the interior, and the timing matters because the Tigers are already trying to piece together life without both him and Chris McClellan at defensive tackle. Fans are looking ahead to next season with plenty of optimism, but this is one of those situations that can change the conversation fast, depending on how the eligibility picture settles and what it means for the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]