The Associated Press has released its inaugural 2026 college football preseason poll, placing the Missouri Tigers at No. 25, a spot that reflects both the program’s recent momentum and the crowded field of SEC contenders.
Missouri joins eight other SEC squads inside the top 25, including Georgia, Texas and Alabama, underscoring the conference’s depth, while the Tigers stand as the sole representative from their regional bracket.
Preseason Landscape
Under head coach Eli Drinkwitz, the Tigers are projected to secure a bowl berth for the seventh straight season, building on an 8‑5 record that hinted at a turnaround after years of rebuilding.
The Big 12, often overlooked in national conversations, still managed to place four of its members in the rankings: Texas Tech at No. 12, BYU at No. 14, Utah at No. 21 and Houston at No. 23, a testament to the conference’s competitive balance.
Meanwhile, Kansas and Kansas State failed to crack the AP list, though the latter received a nod in the USA Today poll and is now guided by new head coach Collin Klein, who inherits veteran quarterback Avery Johnson and hopes to improve on a 6‑6 finish.
Ohio State captured the top spot, followed by Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas, setting the tone for a season that many expect to be defined by both traditional powerhouses and emerging challengers.