Missouri’s final nonconference tune-up against Troy comes with a clear checklist. Eli Drinkwitz said this week that the Tigers have work to do in several spots, even after the passing game flashed against Kansas. Special teams, the secondary and the running back room all drew attention, and Saturday’s matchup will put each of those concerns under the microscope.
The run game is one of the biggest questions. Missouri averaged better than 5.5 yards per carry in each of its first two games last season, against Kansas and an FCS opponent in Central Arkansas.
This year, against an FCS opponent and Kansas, that number has dropped to 4.4 yards per carry. Ahmad Hardy’s absence is part of the story, but it is not the whole story.
The offensive line has had trouble creating room on the ground through the first two weeks.
Troy has the kind of front that can make that issue more obvious. Drinkwitz pointed to two defensive linemen who “can really play,” a nod to defensive tackle Ty Clemons and defensive end Kavion Henderson.
Clemons, a Boston College transfer, already has nine tackles and a sack. Henderson, a junior transfer from Arkansas, posted a 73.7 PFF run defense grade in Troy’s second game.
Neither player has a huge track record of heavy usage before arriving at Troy, which leaves Missouri with a chance to attack the run game if it can get cleaner execution from its backs and better movement up front. If that part of the offense stalls again, it will be a real sign of trouble in the backfield.
The secondary is another area Drinkwitz singled out during Tuesday’s press conference, and he did not sugarcoat the issue. He pointed to a missed tackle by cornerback Jahlil Florence and a blown man-to-man coverage by cornerback Sione Laulea as examples of what has to get fixed before the Tigers face Troy’s passing game.
"The quarterback this week is going to dial up our seams if we don't get those corrected and if we don't stay attached to man-to-man he's going to eat us alive, so we got a lot of work to do there," Drinkwitz said. "And they're gonna get one-on-one opportunities this week."
That quarterback is Goose Crowder, a sixth-year veteran in his twelfth start, according to Drinkwitz. Crowder has been efficient early this season, throwing for 366 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in two games. He brings smooth footwork, pocket toughness and the ability to push the ball deep.
At the same time, there is volatility in his game. Crowder’s 58.7 completion percentage in 2025 and 51 completion percentage through two games suggest Missouri should have chances to make plays on the ball. Drinkwitz also referenced Crowder’s three-interception game against Clemson last year as the kind of uneven outing that can open the door for a defense.
Missouri’s offensive line will have a major test of its own in Troy defender Smith, who may be the best player the Tigers have seen so far. The first-team All-Sun Belt selection was named the Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player Of the Year and already has 10 pressures and two sacks this season after an 11-sack 2025.
Smith is expected to work against Missouri tackles Cayden Green and Luke Work for much of the game. Green is already established as an All-SEC player, but Work is the more revealing matchup.
He posted one of Missouri’s better PFF grades in Week 2, yet he started only one game for Mississippi State last season and is still relatively unproven. With Josh Atkins injured, a strong showing from Work against Smith would be an encouraging sign.
In Other News...
Missouri May Have Found The Pass Rusher It Desperately Needed
Missouris defense got a welcome jolt in the Border War, and it came from a player who is still just scratching the surface of what he can become. Defensive end Daeden Hopkins was named Co-SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after he spent the game harassing Kansas quarterback Isaiah Marshall, finishing with eight pressures in the matchup. For a Missouri front that has been searching for more consistent disruption, Hopkins performance stood out as the kind of edge presence that can change how an offense has to play.
Hopkins, a 19-year-old underclassman, has already piled up 12 pressures this season and sits among the nations top players in that category. Eli Drinkwitz has pointed to the work ethic and development behind the jump, noting that Hopkins has added weight while also becoming more reliable against the run. The bigger question now is whether this was a breakout night or the start of Missouri finally having the pass rusher it has been trying to find. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Wrestling Schedule Sets Up A Season Tigers Fans Will Track Closely
Mizzou wrestlings 2026-27 schedule is now on the books, and it gives fans a clear early look at a season that should keep interest high from start to finish. The Tigers will have seven home events on the calendar, along with a slate of road tournaments that includes stops at the Keystone Classic and the National Duals Invitational, before the Big 12 Championship arrives late in the year. The season is set to begin with the Missouri Duals on Nov. 2, giving the program an immediate chance to set the tone in front of its home crowd.
The biggest date on the wrestling calendar, though, comes in March 2027, when the NCAA Championships will be hosted by the University of Missouri in St. Louis. For a program like Mizzou, that kind of spotlight adds another layer to a schedule already built around familiar in-state interest and high-level competition. By the time the postseason rolls around, Tigers fans will have had plenty of chances to track how this group handles the grind, and whether the long run toward St. Louis looks as promising as the schedule suggests. [Read more 🡒]
Drinkwitz Knows Mizzou Has Two Problems That Could Get Exposed Fast
Missouris loss to Kansas in the 122nd Border War came with a pair of glaring issues that were hard to ignore, and they were the kind that can snowball quickly once SEC play starts to tighten the screws. Special teams had a rough day, and the secondary was uneven enough in coverage to leave head coach Eliah Drinkwitz with more than one area to clean up after a rivalry game that exposed some familiar stress points.
Drinkwitz said he took responsibility for the problems and noted that changes have already been made to address them, which matters because the schedule ahead will not offer much room to breathe. Missouri has to get sharper in a hurry, especially with cornerback play still searching for consistency and the margins getting thinner against tougher opponents. [Read more 🡒]