After wrapping up the regular season with a solid 31-17 win over Arkansas in Fayetteville, Missouri sits at 8-4 overall and 4-4 in SEC play. That’s six straight seasons of bowl eligibility under head coach Eli Drinkwitz, who just signed a six-year extension to stay in Columbia through 2031. Safe to say, the Tigers are in stable hands - and once again, they’re headed to the postseason.
Under Drinkwitz, Mizzou is 2-2 in bowl games, including a signature 14-3 win over Ohio State in the 2023 Cotton Bowl and a tight 27-24 victory over Iowa in last year’s Music City Bowl. So where could the Tigers be bowling this December? Let’s break down the latest projections from across the college football landscape.
ESPN: Music City or Mayo?
ESPN’s bowl predictions are split, with two different analysts sending Missouri to two different destinations.
Kyle Bonagura has Mizzou heading back to familiar territory - the Music City Bowl in Nashville on Dec. 30.
The projected opponent? Nebraska, a throwback matchup with an old Big 12 rival.
The Cornhuskers finished 7-5 overall and 4-5 in Big Ten play. It’s a matchup that would bring some nostalgic energy for fans who remember those hard-nosed Big 12 battles.
Mark Schlabach, meanwhile, sees the Tigers going to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte on Jan. 2, where they’d face Duke. The Blue Devils went 7-5 and 6-2 in ACC play and are set to play Virginia in the ACC Championship this weekend. It’s an intriguing matchup between two programs that have quietly built strong identities over the past few seasons.
CBS Sports: Deep in the Heart of Texas
CBS Sports slots Missouri into the Texas Bowl, set for Dec. 27 at NRG Stadium in Houston. The opponent?
Iowa State, another old Big 12 connection. The Cyclones also finished 8-4 and 4-4 in conference play, mirroring Mizzou’s record.
These two haven’t faced off since 2011, but the programs share plenty of history. It’d be a physical, evenly matched game between two teams that know each other’s DNA - even if it’s been a while.
Sports Illustrated: Mayo Bowl, but with a Clemson Twist
Sports Illustrated also likes Missouri in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, but this time against Clemson. The Tigers from South Carolina started the year with sky-high expectations - No. 4 in the AP poll - but stumbled to a 7-5 finish and 4-4 in the ACC. That’s a brand-name opponent with something to prove, and it would give Missouri a chance to notch a high-profile win to cap the season.
The Athletic: Gator Bowl vs. a Playoff Contender?
Scott Dochterman of The Athletic has Missouri in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, also on Dec. 27, this one in Jacksonville. The opponent?
Miami (Fla.), who finished 10-2 and 6-2 in ACC play. The Hurricanes won’t be in the ACC title game, but they’re still hanging around the edges of the playoff conversation - at least for now.
That would be a major measuring-stick game for Missouri, facing a 10-win team with elite speed and talent on both sides of the ball.
USA Today: Border Battle in Nashville
USA Today also projects Missouri back to the Music City Bowl, but this time against Illinois. The Fighting Illini finished 8-4 and 5-4 in the Big Ten.
It’s a border battle with some regional spice - and a preview of what’s to come. The two programs are already locked into a six-game series starting in 2027, so this would be an early taste of that rivalry.
What’s Next?
Missouri could see a bump in the College Football Playoff rankings, which drop tonight at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN. The Tigers just climbed back into the AP Top 25 this past week at No. 25, and a spot in the CFP rankings would only boost their bowl resume.
This weekend’s conference championship games - all ten of them - will be the final data points before the CFP Selection Committee unveils the 12-team playoff field on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 11 a.m. CT. Once that’s settled, Missouri will find out exactly where they’re headed.
No matter the destination, the Tigers are in for another meaningful postseason - and with Drinkwitz locked in through 2031, the program is clearly building for more than just bowl trips. But first, one more game to close out 2025.