No. 25 Missouri is set to open the 2026 season on Thursday night, and the Tigers will do it under the lights at the newly-renovated Memorial Stadium.
Kickoff against FCS Arkansas-Pine Bluff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on Sept. 3, with SEC Network carrying the broadcast.
The Golden Lions won’t be walking into Columbia cold, either. Arkansas-Pine Bluff already has a game on the board after a 35-15 home win over Morehouse in Week 0. Garrison Davis passed for 182 yards and two touchdowns, Jaylen Jennings added 65 rushing yards and a score, and Jalen Williams broke loose for a 70-yard touchdown run.
Thursday’s matchup will be the first-ever meeting between Missouri and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and it gives the Tigers their 162nd different football opponent all-time.
For fans following along, the game will be on SEC Network with Chuckie Kempf, Dustin Fox, and Marilyn Payne on the call. It can also be watched on WatchESPN or the ESPN App.
Radio coverage will come from the Tiger Radio Network with Mike Kelly, Howard Richards, and Chris Gervino. Local radio options are 1580 AM/105.1 FM and 96.7 FM, while SiriusXM will carry it on channel 381. The Varsity Network App will also have the game by searching “Missouri.”
For streaming, FuboTV is listed as an option.
Fans can also track the action through PowerMizzou.com, along with @PowerMizzoucom and @codygoodwin on Twitter/X, Missouri Tigers on 247Sports on Facebook, and PowerMizzou on Instagram.
Around the SEC, Missouri’s opener is part of a busy Week 1 slate that stretches from Thursday through Monday. Other conference games include UTEP at No.
10 Oklahoma on Friday, East Carolina at No. 13 Alabama, Baylor vs.
Auburn in Atlanta, Missouri State at No. 8 Texas A&M, Clemson at No.
11 LSU, Florida Atlantic at Florida, and No. 24 Louisville vs.
No. 9 Ole Miss in Nashville on Monday.
Elsewhere in the national schedule, Thursday brings Lindenwood at Stony Brook and Colorado at Georgia Tech. Friday features No.
7 Miami at Stanford and Fresno State at No. 14 USC.
Saturday’s lineup includes No. 1 Ohio State, No.
2 Oregon, No. 18 Penn State, No.
16 Michigan, No. 12 Texas Tech, and No.
17 Washington, while Sunday has Washington State at No. 17 Washington and Wisconsin vs.
No. 4 Notre Dame in Green Bay.
Monday closes the weekend with No. 19 SMU at Florida State.
In Other News...
Mark Mitchell Could Give Mizzou A Huge Boost If One Thing Breaks Right
Missouri basketball has a chance to get a meaningful lift from the transfer portal if a key eligibility question breaks the right way. Mark Mitchell is viewed as a positive addition for the Tigers after a winding recruitment that included a previous commitment to Kentucky, and his potential return would give Missouri another experienced piece as it continues shaping next season's roster.
The catch is that his case is still not fully settled, with a fifth year of eligibility not yet confirmed. For Missouri, that leaves the situation in a holding pattern for now, even as the possibility of landing Mitchell adds a little more intrigue to an offseason already full of movement and expectation around the program. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Just Got Pulled Back Into A Mark Mitchell Twist
Mark Mitchells path back to Columbia remains one of the more notable offseason twists for Missouri, especially because Kentucky had been in the middle of the picture before he changed course. After initially entering the portal and pledging to the Wildcats, Mitchell flipped his commitment back to Missouri, giving the Tigers a familiar frontcourt piece with plenty of high-major experience and a chance to settle into a role that could matter right away.
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Missouri Suddenly Has A Courtroom Problem Before The Season Opener
Missouris preseason build-up picked up an unexpected legal wrinkle when defensive tackle Sterling Webb filed a new temporary restraining order aimed at the University of Missouri and its Board of Curators. The move comes as the Tigers are preparing for their season opener, and Webb remains listed on the depth chart while still expected to be part of the lineup.
The filing is meant to keep the school from taking steps that would sideline him next season, including ruling him ineligible. A hearing on the motion, along with the NCAAs bid to dismiss Webbs original request, is set for Wednesday, giving Missouri another off-field issue to monitor just as the on-field attention turns to opening week. [Read more 🡒]
