Mizzou men’s basketball will start the season outside the preseason AP Top 25, but it’s not far off the board.
The Tigers landed just one spot out, drawing the most votes among the teams that were left unranked when the poll was released. Seven SEC teams made the cut, with Florida sitting at No. 1.
For Dennis Gates, the timing of that result probably won’t do much to change the mood inside the program. Missouri is entering the year with what the source describes as its most talented roster, and preseason polls rarely decide anything anyway.
Still, being overlooked can be useful. It adds another layer to a season that already has a few heavyweight matchups lined up before conference play even settles in.
The non-conference slate is loaded with ranked opponents and teams hovering right behind them. Kansas checks in at No. 17 for the Border War, while Illinois is No. 3 for Braggin’ Rights. Nebraska, SLU, Indiana, and Marquette are all receiving votes as well.
Once league play begins, the schedule only gets sharper. Missouri will face No.
8 Tennessee and No. 12 Arkansas twice in SEC action.
On the football side, Missouri’s Oct. 31 trip to Arkansas now has a kickoff time: 6:45 p.m. CST on the SEC Network.
Around the program, there’s been plenty else to track. Luther Burden III continues to carve out a bigger role with the Chicago Bears, leading all receivers with 8 catches for 95 yards in a 31-23 win over the Bengals, with Caleb Williams back on the field.
Elsewhere, Donovan Olugbode stood out in Missouri’s loss to Ole Miss, catching 9 of 13 targets for 128 yards while Austin Simmons threw for 340 yards. Olugbode’s work on the first offensive drive helped set up the field goal that got Missouri on the board.
Missouri tennis also kept building momentum at the ITA Central Regional Championship. Robin Goodman called it “Another great tournament for us,” adding, “Really proud of the way these girls fight and their willingness to support one another.
We are learning what it takes to win at the next level.” Andrew Grevers echoed that positive tone in the MUTigers.com recap, saying, “I am thrilled with the athlete’s attitudes, the way they support each other, and for them to dig deep and give that incredible effort,” before noting, “There’s plenty of room for growth, but the controllables were quite impressive this week.”
The weekend was a strong one for Mizzou Swimming and Diving, too.
Volleyball has started to find its footing after an uneven stretch, winning three straight matches and stacking back-to-back sweeps. That run gives the Tigers a chance to build confidence before another road test.
On the hoops calendar, Texas A&M is next on the list in SEC preview chatter, with Missouri set to host the Aggies on Tuesday, January 5th in the Tigers’ SEC home opener.
And there are still questions to answer with the basketball team’s execution. Missouri’s red zone offense remains a concern after the bye week, especially with the SEC’s top two red zone defenses by touchdown percentage still ahead in Oklahoma at 40% and Texas at 43.75%.
Even with the recent road losses at Mississippi State and Ole Miss, Missouri has already logged some meaningful wins: the Border War in Lawrence, the Homecoming win over ranked Florida, and finally getting Texas A&M off its back. The CFP picture may look messy from the outside, but the program’s season is still very much alive.
There’s also more men’s basketball coverage on the way, with coaches and players discussing role changes, chemistry, the grind of the schedule, and what fans can expect from this group. And on the women’s side, Rock M Radio’s Full Court Press is taking a look at Missouri’s new look starting five.
In Other News...
Mizzous Ole Miss Loss Exposed Problems Tigers Fans Know Too Well
Missouris 31-3 loss to Ole Miss was more than a bad night on the scoreboard. It brought back the same familiar frustrations Tigers fans have seen before: inconsistent line play on both sides of the ball, missed tackles that turned routine snaps into bigger gains, and an offense that could not finish drives once it got near the end zone. The numbers behind it only deepened the concern, with the Tigers getting little done up front and even less to slow the Rebels quarterback.
The bigger issue is how much of this looked like a repeat rather than a one-off. Missouri struggled to generate pressure, had trouble closing on ball carriers, and never found a rhythm in the red zone, which left the game feeling out of reach long before the final whistle. For a team trying to prove it has turned a corner, the performance raised the same question it always seems to at this point in the season: how quickly can these problems actually be fixed? [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Built A Brutal Early Test For Its Young Roster
Missouri is leaning into a tougher early path for its mens basketball team in 2026-27, and it is doing so with purpose. The Tigers have bumped their high-profile nonconference games from four to seven and increased neutral-site games from two to five, a clear sign that coach Dennis Gates wants this group tested before SEC play begins. Early dates with St. Louis and Marquette at neutral sites already set the tone, and the overall setup looks built to challenge a roster that will be especially young.
The real grind comes in December, when Missouri is slated to run through a stretch that could feature Pitt, Kansas, Nebraska, Indiana and Illinois. For a team trying to grow up fast, that kind of schedule can be unforgiving, but it also offers a faster path to learning what holds up under pressure. Gates has made it clear the scheduling is intentional, aimed at strengthening the Tigers profile while giving their younger players the kind of experience that only comes from being thrown into the deep end. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzous Bye Week Just Became Crucial For A Battered Roster
Missouris loss to Ole Miss did more than damage the standings, it left the Tigers with a battered roster and a long injury report to sort through. By the end of the night, 24 players were listed on the SEC injury report, a sign of just how physical the game was and how much this team has been absorbing as the season wears on. Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz and several players both pointed to the toll of the schedule, which makes the timing of the upcoming bye week especially important.
The extra time off now gives Missouri a chance to reset before returning to play Oct. 31 against Arkansas. For a team already dealing with multiple players pushing through injuries, the break arrives at a crucial moment, offering a window to recover, regroup and see who can get closer to full strength before the next stretch begins. [Read more 🡒]