Missouri Tigers are slated to open the 2026 college football season with a preseason ranking of No. 25 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, marking a modest but notable return to the poll after a year outside the rankings.
The ranking follows a 2025 campaign in which the Tigers finished unranked despite posting an 8‑5 record that included a Gator Bowl loss to Virginia, a result that left the program seeking momentum heading into the offseason.
In the latest poll, Missouri collected 158 voting points, edging out Louisville, which garnered 153, underscoring the team's resurgence and the confidence coaches have placed in head coach Eli Drinkwitz's program.
The schedule promises a gauntlet of elite competition, as the Tigers will square off against five of the preseason top‑10 SEC opponents, including No. 1 Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, Texas and Notre Dame, a slate that reflects the conference's depth.
A challenging slate ahead
Nine SEC teams earned spots in the top 25, edging out the Big Ten, and the Tigers' placement signals both the conference's strength and the optimism surrounding Drinkwitz's second‑year surge.
Among the 72 FBS head coaches who participated in the poll, former Missouri offensive coordinator Kirby Moore, now at Washington State, and Casey Woods, who previously worked under Drinkwitz, added their votes, highlighting the program's influence across the coaching landscape.