Missouri’s season opener will have a familiar voice leading the night.
Sheryl Crow, the nine-time Grammy Award winner, said Tuesday that she will perform the national anthem when the Tigers open against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on September 3. The game, billed as Kickoff in CoMo, is scheduled for the Thursday before Week 1.
Mizzou Athletics shared Crow’s announcement on X, with the post reading: “All we wanna do is Kickoff in CoMo 🎤🏈
Sheryl Crow is ready. @MizzouFootball is ready. Are you ready?
🎟️: https://t.co/JtOHuUTVlx pic.twitter.com/6UKGq9sqnX
- Mizzou Athletics (@MizzouAthletics) August 11, 2026”
Crow’s connection to the school runs deep. She was born in Kennett, Missouri, and graduated from the University of Missouri in 1984 with a degree in music education. After college, she used that degree in a classroom, working as an elementary school music teacher.
Her career went far beyond that first job. Crow built a catalog that mixes rock, country and pop, and became known for songs like “All I Wanna Do” and “Everyday Is a Winding Road.” She has sold 50 million albums and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.
The anthem performance will come as Missouri begins Year 7 of the Eli Drinkwitz era. The Tigers enter the season with optimism built around a strong offensive line and elite running back Ahmad Hardy in the backfield, even if the defense still has some questions.
Kickoff in CoMo is set for 7 p.m. CT and will air on SEC Network.
In Other News...
Mark Mitchell Just Put Mizzou In A Roster Squeeze
Mark Mitchells next move has already put Missouri in an awkward spot, and the timing could hardly be worse. The forward has joined a lawsuit in Kentucky seeking a temporary restraining order against the NCAA that would allow him another year of college basketball, with a hearing set for Thursday in Louisville. For Missouri, the immediate reality is simple: if Mitchell cannot get relief, his options are limited to coming back to a roster that is already full.
If the injunction is granted, though, the picture changes quickly. Mitchell would be able to explore opportunities beyond Columbia, which is exactly why the case has so much relevance for Missouri even before a judge weighs in. Kentucky stands out as the most obvious destination to watch, given its open roster spot and reported interest, leaving the Tigers in the middle of a situation that could reshape their own lineup without any on-court move at all. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Defense Has One Missing Piece That Could Swing 2026
Missouris defense had plenty to like last season, finishing eighth nationally in total defense and giving the Tigers a real foundation to build on. The challenge was in the margins, where the unit ranked 106th in total takeaways, leaving too many possessions on the table for an offense that could have used extra chances. As camp opened for 2026, that gap stood out as the clearest place for the defense to make a jump.
Players like Nicholas Rodriguez, Jeremiah Beasley, Nick DeLoach Jr. and Chris Graves Jr. have all pointed to turnovers as the next step. The front and secondary can already hang their hat on yardage and scoring defense, but the Tigers know the season could swing if they start finishing more plays with the ball in hand. For a group that already proved it can keep opponents under control, the missing piece is turning more of those stops into sudden-change opportunities. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Special Teams Suddenly Look Like A Real Strength
Special teams is suddenly looking like more than an afterthought around Missouri, thanks to a healthier Blake Craig and a fresh set of faces brought in to stabilize the unit. Craig, the senior kicker, is fully recovered from the ACL injury that slowed him down and is taking part in fall camp without restrictions, giving the Tigers a veteran presence at a spot where consistency matters every week.
Missouri also turned to John Papuchis to run special teams, and the new coordinator has a deeper toolbox to work with after the program added kicker Oliver Robbins along with punters Brunno Reus and Mark Shenouda. With that mix of recovery, new leadership and added specialists, there is real optimism that the Tigers can make special teams a strength in 2026 rather than a source of unease. [Read more 🡒]