Missouri is officially back in the preseason AP Top 25.
The Tigers landed at No. 25 in Monday’s preseason Associated Press poll, giving Mizzou a consensus Top-25 spot to open the 2026 season. Earlier this month, Missouri checked in at No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches’ preseason poll as well.
It’s a solid early read on where the Tigers stand nationally after finishing the 2025 season 8-5 and sitting in the receiving votes category in both major polls. Other preseason rankings have been a little more bullish on Missouri, too: the Tigers were slotted No. 23 in the CBS Sports Preseason 138 and No. 19 in ESPN’s Preseason SP+ rankings.
Within the SEC, Missouri was picked to finish 10th by the media at SEC Media Days in Tampa last month. Georgia and Texas were projected at the top of the league, followed by Ole Miss, Texas A&M, LSU and Alabama. Oklahoma, Tennessee and Florida were placed ahead of Mizzou in the conference pecking order.
The AP poll also reinforced how strong the league looks at the top. Georgia came in at No. 3 and Texas at No. 5, matching their standing in the coaches poll behind Ohio State and Oregon, which hold the top two spots in both preseason rankings.
Notre Dame landed at No. 4.
Here’s the full AP Top 25: 1.
Ohio State 2.
Oregon 3.
Georgia 4.
Notre Dame 5.
Texas 6.
Indiana 7.
Miami (FL) 8.
Texas A&M 9.
Ole Miss 10.
Oklahoma 11.
LSU 12.
Texas Tech 13.
Alabama T14.
BYU T14.
USC 16.
Michigan 17.
Washington 18.
Penn State 19.
SMU 20.
Tennessee 21.
Utah 22.
Iowa 23.
Houston 24.
Louisville 25.
Missouri
Missouri is in fall camp this week and opens the 2026 season on Sept. 3 against FCS Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Thursday night kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT at Faurot Field in Columbia, with the game on SEC Network.
In Other News...
Mizzou Camp Is Turning Into A Battle For Key Roles
Missouris fall camp has settled into the kind of practice stretch where every rep seems to matter, and special teams is very much part of that conversation. Blake Craig and Brunno Reus both drew attention during the kicking and punting work, while the wide receivers went through run-blocking drills under Jacob Peeler, a reminder that the staff is still sorting out who can help in all phases before the season gets here.
There was a little extra eyes-on interest as a Chicago Bears scout watched from the sideline, and the pass-catchers also worked flat routes against defensive pressure as the competition tightened up. Even the north end zone had a bit of camp buzz, with a new team store section visible in the stadium, another sign that football season is creeping closer while the Tigers keep pushing through a practice period full of open jobs. [Read more 🡒]
Missouris Home Sellout Streak Says Everything About This Program
Missouris ticket office has already put down another loud marker for the programs rise, with all season tickets for its seven home games in 2026 sold out. It is the third straight season the Tigers have reached that point, a sign that the demand around Faurot Field has become a regular part of the conversation rather than a one-off surge.
Single-game tickets for the Florida and Texas games are gone as well, and the rest of the home slate is moving quickly. The Tigers open Sept. 3 at Faurot Field, where fans will get their first look at a renovated north end zone and another chance to fill a stadium that has become one of the clearest measures of how far this program has come. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzous All-American Buzz Comes With One Huge Ahmad Hardy Question
The preseason honors keep piling up for Missouri, with Ahmad Hardy landing on the Associated Press first team and Cayden Green earning second-team recognition. Both Tigers also showed up on a wave of preseason watch lists and All-SEC teams, a reminder that the program has real star power entering the fall, with Green expected to anchor the left tackle spot.
Hardys status is the part that hangs over all of it. Missouri is still evaluating where things stand for the back, who is recovering from a gunshot wound, and the uncertainty leaves a notable gap in an offense that had been looking to feature him. For now, the attention around the Tigers comes with a question mark attached, and it is the sort of one that could shape how their preseason buzz translates once camp gets deeper. [Read more 🡒]