The University of Missouri’s football program entered the 2026 season with a notable preseason accolade, landing at No. 25 in the AP Poll.
That placement is part of a broader surge for the Southeastern Conference, where eight teams cracked the Top 25, underscoring the league’s depth.
Mizzou’s first test will come on October 10, when the Tigers travel to face Texas A&M at Faurot Field, a matchup that pits two ranked squads against each other early in the year.
A challenging road ahead
The schedule does not ease after that opening clash; over the next six weeks the Tigers will meet four additional Top‑10 opponents, a gauntlet that could shape their final standing.
For head coach Eli Drinkwitz, the ranking marks the second time in his tenure that his team has begun a season inside the AP Top 25, a milestone he described as a testament to the program’s steady progress.
Fans and analysts alike are watching closely, aware that each contest against a ranked rival will be a litmus test for the team’s championship aspirations.