Mizzou Navigates Offensive Transition Ahead of Gator Bowl Clash with Virginia
With the Gator Bowl just around the corner, Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz is steering his team through a significant transition on the offensive side of the ball. Offensive coordinator Kirby Moore, who helped engineer one of the Tigers’ most potent attacks in recent memory, is off to take the head coaching job at Washington State. That leaves a sizable hole in Mizzou’s game-day operation - and a key decision looming: who’s calling plays on December 27?
True to form, Drinkwitz kept things light at his weekly press conference, joking that play-calling duties might come down to a coin flip. But behind the humor, there’s a serious plan taking shape.
“Staff collaboration is probably one of the best things we do here in how we design and operate game plans,” Drinkwitz said. “So we put it together, and then somebody’s gotta call it and call it the way that they do. We’ll work through that the rest of this week.”
That collaborative approach has been a hallmark of Drinkwitz’s tenure, but Moore’s departure is still a big shift. In 2023, under Moore’s direction, Mizzou’s offense found its rhythm en route to a Cotton Bowl win. That season, the Tigers averaged 434 yards per game, with quarterback Brady Cook throwing for over 2,500 yards and running back Cody Schrader rushing for a program-record 1,627 yards.
Moore won’t be with the team for the bowl game, but he leaves behind a legacy of offensive growth - and a challenge for whoever steps into his shoes.
Focus Turns to Virginia
With Moore moving on, Drinkwitz is making it clear: all eyes are on the Gator Bowl and the matchup against Virginia.
“I’ve been adamant with this, with our team, with our players - everybody who’s in this building’s focus has to be: What do we need to do to win the ballgame?” he said. “And with Kirby getting his opportunity, my entire focus for the last 72 hours has been preparing and getting this offense in the best position possible for us to win.”
Once bowl prep wraps up, Drinkwitz said the program will shift its attention to finding a new offensive coordinator. And while that hire will be critical, it’s clear that the Tigers already have a strong foundation in place - especially on the ground.
Run Game Remains Mizzou’s Identity
Even as the Tigers’ passing game has taken a step back since their 2023 peak, the run game has remained a constant - and a force. In 2025, Missouri led the SEC in rushing, averaging a robust 234.1 yards per game. That’s a significant jump from the 172.8 they posted during their Cotton Bowl run.
This year’s breakout star? Ahmad Hardy, who powered the ground game and earned first-team All-American honors for his efforts. While the offense as a whole dipped early in the season, Hardy’s emergence helped lift the Tigers back to a 429-yard average per game - up from 389 earlier in the year.
Still, the contrast between the 2023 and 2025 seasons is hard to ignore, especially in SEC play. In 2023, Mizzou averaged a healthy 35.9 points per game in conference matchups.
This year? Just 23.6.
The passing game has been the biggest culprit. The Tigers averaged only 169 passing yards in their four SEC losses. Injuries played a role - Beau Pribula opened the season under center, but when he went down, freshman Matt Zollers was thrust into action.
“We threw the ball really well in ‘23,” Drinkwitz said. “I’m not sure whatever the reason was, the regression for us the last two years and throwing the football.”
That’s a key piece of the puzzle for whoever takes over as OC. While Drinkwitz is committed to keeping the run game - particularly the outside zone - as a staple, he’s open to fresh ideas.
“If somebody comes in and they want to emphasize the counter or the inside zone or power, so be it,” he said. “We’ll be fine. I’m not going to put any restrictions on the new offensive coordinator.”
What’s Next for the Offense?
Drinkwitz laid out a clear vision for what he wants in Missouri’s next offensive leader: a dominant downhill run game, a vertical passing threat, and the ability to execute in critical situations. One area he specifically pointed to for improvement? Third down.
Missouri ranked 25th nationally in third-down conversion rate at 46.3%, but in their losses, that number plummeted - just 14-for-55 combined.
“We’ve got to get that corrected and cleaned up,” Drinkwitz said. “I think we’ve got a pretty strong foundation of how we run the football, but we’ve got to improve. That’s where I’ll look.”
Final Thoughts
As Missouri prepares for its bowl matchup with Virginia, the Tigers are in a familiar position: adapting, evolving, and looking to finish strong. The offense may be in transition, but the identity - tough, physical, and built around a punishing run game - remains intact.
And while the play-caller for December 27 is still to be determined, the mission is clear: win the bowl game, then find the right voice to guide this offense into the next chapter.