Missouri football is set to attend the SEC Media Days in Tampa, where the Tigers will outline their plans for the upcoming season and signal their intent to rebound from an 8‑5 record.
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz will be joined on stage by running back Jamal Roberts, linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez and offensive lineman Cayden Green, giving fans a first look at the core pieces returning from last year.
The team is looking to bounce back after finishing the previous campaign with an 8‑5 record, a season that followed back‑to‑back double‑digit win campaigns in 2023 and 2024, highlighted by a Cotton Bowl victory and a Music City Bowl triumph.
Roberts proved his explosiveness with 753 rushing yards and six touchdowns last year, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and he capped the season with a 143‑yard effort against Kansas.
Ahmad Hardy’s recovery from a May shooting remains a focal point, as his health could shape the early‑season workload and the backfield rotation.
Missouri will also introduce a new starting quarterback in Austin Simmons, who will be guided by offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, while Green is expected to anchor a reworked offensive line.
Defensively, the Tigers must replace a wave of talent that saw six players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, a challenge that could elevate linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez to a larger role.
Key Storylines at SEC Media Days
The conversations at the Tampa venue will weave together the macro changes in the league with the micro decisions that could define Missouri’s fortunes.
The SEC’s decision to expand to a nine‑game conference schedule adds a new layer of strategy, with Missouri slated for home matchups against Florida, Texas A&M, Texas, Kentucky and Oklahoma, and road trips to Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Georgia.
Media days will serve as the forum to discuss the expanded schedule, Hardy’s timeline, Simmons’ development and the reconstruction of the defense, setting the tone for what promises to be a pivotal year for the program.