Missouri’s football program has been handed a boost as the 2026 preseason rankings were released, placing the Tigers at No. 23 in CBS Sports’ top‑25 list.
The achievement comes after a modest finish the previous year, when the team was slotted 34th in the same outlet’s final poll and ranked last in the US LBM Coaches Poll at No. 25.
Athletic director Jeff Long praised the early projection, noting that the Tigers will test themselves against a gauntlet of elite competition throughout the fall.
A challenging slate ahead
The schedule features six matchups against teams that also appear in the preseason top‑25, including a showdown with No. 4 Texas, a clash with No. 5 Georgia and a battle against No. 22 Florida.
The season opens with a home game against Arkansas‑Pine Bluff, an FCS program that does not carry a national ranking, before the Tigers move into conference play.
Beyond the marquee opponents, the slate also includes contests with No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon and No. 3 Notre Dame, while Indiana, the reigning national champion, sits at No. 6.
Other SEC powerhouses such as LSU (No. 10), Alabama (No. 13), Tennessee (No. 17), South Carolina (No. 28), Auburn (No. 32) and Vanderbilt (No. 36) round out a deep field of ranked opponents.
Every opponent on Missouri’s calendar, except the opening FCS foe, carries a CBS Sports ranking, underscoring the breadth of the challenge that lies ahead.