As the curtain gets ready to fall on the 2025 Mizzou football season, there’s still one more chapter to write - and it could be a meaningful one. The Tigers close out their year in the Gator Bowl, and while the focus will shift quickly to the transfer portal and the 2026 roster, tonight’s game offers a final glimpse at some key storylines that could shape the program’s future. Here are five things we’re watching closely as Missouri takes the field one last time in 2025.
1. Ahmad Hardy’s Shot at History
Ahmad Hardy is within striking distance of a Mizzou milestone - and it’s not just any record. He’s chasing the single-season rushing mark, a benchmark that’s already been broken twice under Eli Drinkwitz.
First it was Tyler Badie in 2021, then Cody Schrader in 2023. Now, Hardy enters the final game of the season with 1,560 rushing yards.
He needs just 68 to pass Schrader’s 1,627 and etch his name atop the Tigers’ record book.
But it won’t come easy. Virginia’s defense is no pushover.
The Cavaliers rank 21st nationally in rushing defense, allowing just over 110 yards per game. Even more telling: they give up only 3.32 yards per carry, good for 18th in the country.
Hardy’s been held under 68 yards three times this season - against Auburn, Oklahoma, and Alabama - all top-30 run defenses. Virginia fits that mold, so Hardy will have to earn every yard if he wants the crown.
Regardless of whether he gets there, Hardy’s 2025 campaign has been nothing short of spectacular. But breaking the record would be a fitting exclamation point on a season that’s already been one for the books.
2. Who’s Calling the Shots on Offense?
With offensive coordinator Kirby Moore now the head coach at Washington State, there’s a bit of mystery surrounding Missouri’s play-calling duties tonight. Chip Lindsey has been hired to take over the offense in 2026, but he won’t be calling plays in this one.
So who’s steering the ship?
Will Eli Drinkwitz take the reins himself? Or will it be one of the current assistants - perhaps wide receivers coach Jacob Peeler or running backs coach Curtis Luper - stepping in as the voice in the quarterback’s ear?
And beyond the “who,” there’s the “what”: What does the offense look like without Moore? Missouri’s offense took a step back in 2025, so it’ll be interesting to see if there are any tweaks or wrinkles in tonight’s game plan.
This isn’t just a bowl game - it’s a sneak peek into what could be coming next fall.
3. Matt Zollers’ Audition for 2026
Let’s be clear: Matt Zollers isn’t going to win the starting quarterback job for next season based on one game. But he can absolutely put himself in the conversation - and maybe even force the coaching staff to reconsider how they approach the transfer portal.
Zollers, a true freshman, threw for 402 yards this season, most of it coming during a two-and-a-half game stretch when starter Beau Pribula was sidelined. He completed 29 of 60 passes for 327 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception in that span. The Tigers dropped two of those three games, with the lone win coming against Mississippi State - a game dominated by Hardy’s 300-yard rushing performance.
Pribula returned from injury and reclaimed the job late in the season, but he’s since entered the portal. That leaves Zollers as the starter for tonight - and potentially a key piece of the 2026 puzzle.
Missouri will be active in the portal looking for another quarterback, no doubt. But the type of quarterback they pursue may hinge, at least in part, on what Zollers shows tonight.
Is he ready to compete for the job? Or is Missouri going to chase a high-profile transfer who walks in as the presumed starter? Zollers won’t answer all those questions tonight, but he has a chance to make a statement.
4. Which Young Players Step Into the Spotlight?
Bowl games often double as auditions for the future, and Missouri has plenty of young talent looking to make a case for bigger roles next season.
Wide receiver is the most obvious spot. With Marquis Johnson and Joshua Manning both hitting the portal, there are snaps up for grabs.
Donovan Olugbode looks like a lock to start in 2026, but keep an eye on DaMarion Fowlkes and Shaun Terry II. Both redshirted this year, but tonight could be their first real chance to show what they’ve got before Mizzou dips into the portal again.
On the defensive side, there’s intrigue as well. Linebacker Daeden Hopkins and freshman Jeremiah Beasley are two names to watch, along with several young defensive linemen and cornerbacks who could see the field. Will the staff give them meaningful snaps, or will this be another game where the veterans carry the load?
Spring ball will bring more clarity, but tonight offers a first look at who might be ready to rise.
5. Final College Game for Damon Wilson II and Cayden Green?
While linebacker Josiah Trotter is already out after undergoing knee surgery, there are two more names to keep an eye on: Damon Wilson II and Cayden Green. Both are eligible to declare for the NFL Draft and have received their evaluations from the league’s advisory committee. Neither has announced a decision yet, but the deadline looms on January 14.
Whether or not they declare, this could be their final appearance in a Mizzou uniform. And in today’s college football landscape, returning to school doesn’t always mean returning to the same school.
That said, there’s no indication either player is considering a transfer. It’s likely NFL or Missouri - but we’ll know more in the coming days.
For now, fans should savor the chance to see them suit up, just in case it’s the last time they do so in black and gold.
As the Tigers wrap up their season, tonight's game is more than just a bowl - it’s a bridge. A chance for players to leave a final impression, for young talent to emerge, and for fans to get a glimpse of what’s coming next. The offseason begins tomorrow, but for now, there’s still one more game to play.