In this new 12-team College Football Playoff world, the path to the postseason isn’t just about wins—it’s about timing, matchups, and message control. Some teams are loud, others steady. But one coach? He’s doing both. After signing a hefty $46 million contract extension through 2028, he’s turned doubters into believers and fired off his boldest shot yet—aimed straight at the Big Ten.
Let’s be honest: Missouri hasn’t always been in the playoff conversation. But back-to-back 10-win seasons, top-25 finishes, and major recruiting wins have changed the narrative. The Tigers are quietly becoming one of the SEC’s most intriguing playoff sleepers in 2025. With Beau Pribula at quarterback and a veteran-heavy roster, they’ve got firepower.
And now, with analysts like SEC Mike putting them in the postseason picture, Eli Drinkwitz might just be cleared for takeoff.
On That SEC Football show, SEC Mike and Cousin Shane didn’t dance around it—they put Missouri straight into the playoff mix. Mike started with a bold, measured take. “Is Missouri going to go 12-0? Probably not, but I mean, they’ve got the piece of shape to get to 10 and 2. I think that could easily happen. They’re going to have to play well in some key games, may have to upset a team to get there. But I’m almost buying completely into Mizzou and saying, ‘buddy, if we can just get to 10 and 2, I think we’re in. I think we’re in just like a couple of years ago.’”
With the playoff expanded, 10 wins is the golden number. Nine wins? Maybe. But 10 gets you a real seat at the table. And Missouri’s schedule might be the best break they’ve had in years.
The Tigers avoid both Georgia and Texas, two potential buzzsaws. Instead, their key swing games include Alabama, Oklahoma, Auburn, and Texas A&M. Only Alabama projects them as heavy underdogs. Meanwhile, they open with winnable games—Central Arkansas, Louisiana, UMass, and Kansas—which gives Pribula and the offense time to find rhythm.
Mike didn’t shy away from this advantage either: “Missouri, the fact that they miss Texas, they miss Georgia. I think they can get there at 10 and two.” But that’s when Cousin Shane added, “I feel like the path is the easiest for Mizzou, but is Pribula the guy?”
Beau Pribula, who transferred in from Penn State with a $1.5 million NIL deal, hasn’t had a full season to prove himself. But when he did play last season, he gained 275 yards, five TDs, one interception, and a 74.3% completion rate.
Cousin Shane was cautiously optimistic: “Are we able to just reload, or is there going to be a growing stage here where we’re just losing some games because there are some early games that you’re looking at, the Kansas, South Carolina, Bama. By October, this team will be tested, and if you slip up early, there’s no way you’re getting in later.” But Eli Drinkwitz isn’t concerned. He knows the Tigers are in a different place now.
“Whether we’re talking about offense, special teams, or defense, I think there’s a level of excitement because of the level of depth and competition that we’ve created,” Drinkwitz said. “It’s going to be about establishing an identity early and really playing to that identity.” He’s not bluffing either. Mizzou’s 2025 recruiting class ranks 9th in the SEC, and the Tigers have already added 22 transfers. That’s not luck—it’s strategy. From a 38th overall class in 2019 under Barry Odom to a top-20 national ranking now, Drinkwitz has built something real. Meanwhile….
Eli Drinkwitz fires back at Big Ten in CFP debate
As Missouri climbs the ladder, their head coach isn’t just thinking wins—he’s thinking respect. And in true SEC fashion, that means drawing a line against the Big Ten.
Amid all the back-and-forth about College Football Playoff expansion, the SEC and Big Ten are going at it over who deserves more automatic spots. Brett McMurphy posted that the SEC sent out a 7-page document claiming no other league plays a tougher regular-season slate. The SEC called it a “regular season gauntlet.” But Illinois head coach Bret Bielema clapped back, pointing out the Big Ten went 6–4 in head-to-head games against the SEC in 2024. He even suggested digging into the last few years of NIL- and portal-influenced matchups to get a clearer picture of today’s competitive balance.
That’s when Eli Drinkwitz jumped in with his own receipts. Missouri beat Iowa 27–24 in the 2024 Music City Bowl, and before that, shut out Ohio State 14–3 in the 2023 Cotton Bowl. No debating the timing—that’s big in postseason play. Drinkwitz didn’t say much, just let the wins talk with one tweet: “#MIZ is 2-0 vs big10 n last 2 years ”
Missouri isn’t just beating Big Ten teams—they’re doing it while being labeled a “mid-tier” SEC squad. That’s the SEC’s core argument in the CFP debate: even their middle-of-the-pack programs can run with anyone in the country.
According to Brett McMurphy, the SEC submitted to the CFP committee that “all but two SEC teams have ranked in the top 50 in Strength of Record (SOR) over the past 10 seasons.” Critics questioned the metric’s accuracy, but the conference—and coaches like Drinkwitz—are standing by it. And after back-to-back bowl wins over top Big Ten teams, who’s arguing?
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