Thicker_Poster

Mizzou Football 2026 Schedule: This Ain't Getting Easier, It's a Meat Grinder – Fire Kirby

Posted by Thicker_Poster on 11/25/25 at 8:37 pm

I just stared at the 2026 schedule and wanted to throw my phone across the room. We thought this year was brutal? Nah, next year they're turning it up to 11. Check this gauntlet out – no fluff, just the opponents:

Non-Conference:vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
@ Kansas
vs. Troy

SEC:@ Arkansas
@ Georgia
@ Mississippi State
vs. Florida
vs. Kentucky
vs. Oklahoma
vs. Texas
vs. Texas A&M
@ Ole Miss

That's it. No South Carolina to sneak a W against their usual mess. No Vanderbilt – you know, the team that's shockingly 9-2 and top-12 ranked right now with monster wins over Missouri, LSU, and South Carolina; we'd have loved that kind of "breather" matchup. And Auburn? Forget it, they're perpetually horrible, but nope, not on the slate. Instead, we've got a murderers' row of beasts at home and road trips that could break a lesser program. Three home games against top-10 juggernauts? Cool, Eli Drinkwitz, thanks for the "easy" slate. Look, with this current roster and coaching staff? We're staring down five guaranteed losses right off the bat: Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma. These aren't just good teams – they're elite.

As of today's CFP rankings (Nov 25), Texas A&M's sitting at No. 3 (undefeated, steamrolling everyone), Georgia's locked in at No. 4 (one loss but still a machine), Ole Miss at No. 6 (high-powered offense that's gonna carve us up in Oxford), Oklahoma at No. 8 (Brent Venables has them humming), and Texas at No. 17 (Arch Manning slinging it like it's nothing – dude's got that Manning magic, historic games this year with six-TD outbursts). Beating even one of these monsters would be a banner year – think back to our miracle runs. Two? We'd be popping champagne, CFP talk or not. But with Kirby Moore calling plays? Our offense seems to be stuck in quicksand. Dude's gotta go – fired yesterday. That vanilla scheme isn't cutting it against these defenses. We need an OC who can light up scoreboards, not bore them to death.

Time to poach from the Group of Five for some fresh blood with actual explosive juice. I'm talking guys who turn scrappy programs into highlight reels:
Dana Holgorsen (ex-USF/Houston): Air raid wizard who's built explosive attacks everywhere he's been. Give him our talent, and we'd be averaging 40+ a game.
Jordan Davis (North Texas): Young gun running one of the most efficient G5 offenses – big plays, tempo, no huddle chaos. He'd unlock our RBs and WRs like we haven't seen since the Chase Daniel days.
Brennan Marion (UNLV): This guy's system is straight fire – spread-option madness that's put up gaudy numbers in the Mountain West. Imagine that creativity against SEC secondaries.

Drinkwitz, make the move. This schedule's a death march without an offense that can score in bunches. Who's with me – 7-5 would feel like a miracle if we snag one of those upsets. MIZ! But seriously, changes NOW. What y'all think?

re: Drinkwitz Is Good — But He Might Be Overrated If We Want to Be Elite

Posted by Thicker_Poster on 11/17/25 at 3:03 pm to ZouKeeper314

quote:
Fact! Mizzou beats #1 UGA, but their safety didn't give up on the play and caught Shrader at the 2 yard line. No one talks about that play, but if Shrader scores, Mizzou is on a different trajectory.

Fact: Mizzou lost that game so it's a moot point

quote:
Problem with him is he i too loyal with his staff. There are at least a couple coaches that need to be fired when the season is over.

I agree. He's gotta show some ball and fire Moore. We can't look like world beaters against .500 and below, then run the same plays and expect the same results against the big boys.

re: Drinkwitz Is Good — But He Might Be Overrated If We Want to Be Elite

Posted by Thicker_Poster on 11/17/25 at 11:33 am to Thicker_Poster

Just wanted to clarify — I’m not trying to be negative on Drinkwitz or the program. I just want to put things in perspective given some of the excitement and media hype floating around.
The reality is: Mizzou has never been an elite program. The wins against LSU, Kansas State, and Ohio State were great for where we were, but we need to be honest about what that means in the broader SEC and national picture.

We’re still levels above where the Odom era left us. Drinkwitz has recruited well, developed talent, and gotten the program respect. That’s a big deal — we should celebrate it.

Right now, I’d place Eli a level above Butch Jones at Tennessee — that’s where he is today, not necessarily where he’ll be in a year or two. That’s important to remember: his current status is strong, but we can’t project elite-level success prematurely.

At the same time, until proven otherwise, we shouldn’t expect Mizzou to consistently beat the Bamas and the Georges of the world. Those programs are built differently, and elite status takes sustained wins against top-10 teams, something we haven’t consistently shown yet.

So, again — not trying to downplay those wins. They were important, meaningful victories for the program. But until we see a trend of beating the truly elite programs, we are what we are. Respect the progress, enjoy the wins, but let’s pump the brakes on expecting instant elite-level results.
Patience is the key — and if this trajectory continues, the next few years will be very telling for Drinkwitz and the Tigers.

Drinkwitz Is Good — But He Might Be Overrated If We Want to Be Elite

Posted by Thicker_Poster on 11/17/25 at 10:43 am

I want to be clear up front — I’m not a Drinkwitz hater. Compared to the Odom years, he’s done a great job stabilizing the program, upgrading talent, and delivering some exciting seasons. But if the goal is becoming elite, actually competing for CFP spots every year, we need to look past the shiny record and look at who he beats and who he doesn’t.

When you break down his résumé — ranked teams, CFP top-25 opponents, top-10 opponents, and teams with winning records — the résumé looks more average than “elite.”

---

2021–2025: The Resume Beneath the Surface

2021 LSU “Signature Win” — Completely Overrated

People still cling to this one like it was some monumental upset.

Reality check:

LSU finished 6–7 in 2021

3–5 in SEC

Lost the Texas Bowl

Locker room was a disaster, Orgeron was on his way out

This wasn’t a powerhouse LSU team. It wasn’t even a good LSU team.
It was a broken, losing program. Calling that a major win is a reach.

---

2023 Season: Great Record, But Look Closer

Record vs Ranked Teams at Game Time (2023):

4–2
Wins: Kansas State, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio State (Cotton Bowl)
Losses: LSU, Georgia

Record vs Final CFP Top-25 (2023): 2–2

Record vs Final CFP Top-10 (2023): 0–1

Vs Winning / .500 / Losing Teams (2023):

Vs winning teams: 4–2

Vs .500 teams: 2–0

Vs losing teams: 5–0
? He beat the teams he should beat. The elite teams? Not so much.

---

About That “Signature” Cotton Bowl Win Over Ohio State

People call this one proof that Drinkwitz can beat the biggest programs in the country.

But context matters:

Ohio State was missing multiple star players

Several starters opted out

Key playmakers on offense and defense were out

The Buckeyes were basically a B-team roster by kickoff

A win is a win — but if you’re using this as “Drinkwitz can take down national powers,” you’re stretching it. That was not the Ohio State that plays in the CFP every year.

---

2023 Kansas State Win — Also Overrated

Ranked at the time, sure. But:

K-State finished 9–4

Not top-10

Not a playoff contender

Solid team, not elite

Another good win, but not a program-changing one.

---

2024 Season – Regression vs Elite Teams

Lost to ranked Alabama

Didn’t beat any CFP top-10 teams

Again: beat the beatable, struggled in the games that actually matter for elite status

---

2025 Season (So Far)

As of today:

7–3 overall

3–3 SEC

No wins against teams that project to finish in the CFP Top-10

Again, the wins are against teams with average or below-average records

---

Big Picture: Good Coach, But Not Elite

I’ll absolutely give Drinkwitz his credit:

He recruits well

He develops players

He’s better than Odom

He stabilized the program and made Mizzou fun again

But if your goal is respectable, he’s your guy.

If your goal is elite, competing for championships, beating top-10 teams consistently, and moving into national contention?

He hasn’t shown the ability to do that. Not yet.

His résumé is built on:

Beating .500 or losing teams

Occasional wins over “good, not great” teams

No consistent wins over CFP top-10 teams

“Signature” wins that come with context and asterisks

That’s why I say he’s basically:

One level higher than Butch Jones at Tennessee — good, but not elite.

Drinkwitz is the bridge.
But he might not be the guy that gets Mizzou to the other side.

re: Brother in Law is tied in @ Louisiana State politics

Posted by Thicker_Poster on 10/28/25 at 6:21 am to notsince98

But the man can croot!

re: Zoellers

Posted by Thicker_Poster on 10/26/25 at 6:10 am to Bobbybro

This season is down the tubes.

On the plus side, Zoellers will get some much-needed play time and will be ready to go for next season.

-1

Why are there not more posts about the biggest SEC game this weekend?

Posted by Thicker_Poster on 10/23/25 at 5:14 pm

Mizzou @ Vandy!!!!

College Game Day!!!!

#15 vs. #10

Beat Vandy!!!!! F that Burqueno!

:mizzou:

-12

re: Mizzou's 2026-2029 Schedules

Posted by Thicker_Poster on 9/24/25 at 8:11 pm to Mizz-SEC

7-5 and 8-4 will be the new normal for a great season.

re: Why no mention of the new rival schedule release on Paul Finebaum?

Posted by Thicker_Poster on 9/22/25 at 4:06 pm to Clark14

quote:

People in missouri don’t care about sec football.

Yes, they care about SEC football as much as the SEC cares about Mizzou football.

re: Why no mention of the new rival schedule release on Paul Finebaum?

Posted by Thicker_Poster on 9/22/25 at 3:33 pm to nicholastiger

Who’s gonna sit and watch that now that we already know?

Sorry, I forgot — most people in the South don’t have internet and only have antenna TV.

His phone lines have magically “dropped” too.

-3

Why no mention of the new rival schedule release on Paul Finebaum?

Posted by Thicker_Poster on 9/22/25 at 3:13 pm

I’ve been watching the Finebaum Show today to see the reaction from callers and fans about the new rival schedule release, and there’s been zero mention of it. Is his Monday show taped? Or could it be that the SEC brass got to Paul and told him to stay quiet about it?
It would be kind of weird for the SEC Network to stay quiet about it, thinking that their reveal show tomorrow is going to do some ratings, when everybody has already seen the list — unless the list isn’t actually official. Maybe they’re only counting on all the boomers who aren’t internet savvy and haven’t seen it yet. But still, kind of weird.

-4

re: Missouri’s Rivalry Application for South Carolina Officially Denied

Posted by Thicker_Poster on 9/22/25 at 11:14 am to Cockopotamus

I wouldn't want to get owned by Mizzou every year if I was South Carolina, eithet.

We just want you because you're more competitive than that Arkansas punching bag.

re: what do leftists actually mean when they call people fascists?

Posted by Thicker_Poster on 9/15/25 at 6:28 am to Jrv2damac

Damnit Jrv2damac, I have to up-vote this post. :cheers:

Political Talk

re: How should trans people be dealt with going forward?

Posted by Thicker_Poster on 9/14/25 at 8:35 pm to GeneralLee

See Pinochet

Political Talk

re: So we get South Carolina

Posted by Thicker_Poster on 9/14/25 at 8:34 pm to BlacknGoldNuts

Don't Forget

Drink: 3

Beamer: 1

Last year, I think SC had a much better team and still only beat Mizzou by one score.

This year, I think Mizzou has way more weapons.