With spring practice underway, Eli Drinkwitz got to do a lot of things right for the Missouri Tigers. He’s built a roster that punches above its weight in the SEC, stacked up top-20 recruiting classes like clockwork, and even put together a 10-win season in 2024 that had Tigers fans daring to dream bigger. But there’s still something missing. Mizzou hasn’t quite captured that national sizzle—the kind of explosiveness that makes people stop what they’re doing and say, “Whoa, did you see that?” The wins are there, but the highlights? Not so much. And now, heading into 2025, Drinkwitz finds himself at the center to replace NFL-bound Brady Cook under center, one that could either cement his legacy or leave Mizzou stuck in neutral.
The answer to that missing spark may have arrived through the transfer portal in the form of a $1.5 million NIL investment. At the center of it all is a former Penn State backup quarterback with little experience but plenty of intrigue. Beau Pribula, standing at 6’2”, has the frame, the athleticism, and a fresh start in Columbia. The only problem? He’s thrown just 275 yards in five games at the collegiate level. Pairing him in the backfield is a name most fans might overlook but probably shouldn’t. This running back transfer from UL-Monroe, Ahmad Hardy, is one of the most underrated portal grabs in the country. Missouri’s offense has always had a way of elevating playmakers, but this duo has to prove it on the field.
Josh Pate, never one to shy away from bold takes, sees the potential. In the March 11 episode of the Josh Pate’s College Football Show, he ranked Missouri as the No. 5 sleeper team in the SEC, and for good reason. “Missouri’s a real wild card here,” Pate said. “Missouri, we’ve got with the second easiest SEC schedule. Beau Pribula, the backup at Penn State, transfers there. We really don’t know what to expect. But if he’s good—and Eli Drinkwitz normally doesn’t miss on this stuff at quarterback—then they’ve got Amad Hardy, who’s a running back transfer from ULM. And I don’t think he’s being talked about a whole lot.” The name to circle, according to Pate, isn’t just the quarterback. It’s Hardy, the young rusher who flew under the radar but might end up being Missouri’s true difference-maker.
Hardy will be a key piece who put up 1,300 yards as a freshman. For Missouri, the defensive side of the ball could also be a major reason why they make noise in the playoff hunt. Pate highlighted just how much production they bring back. “Top five returning production on defense,” he pointed out. “And you see the schedule in front of you here. It’s the second easiest in the SEC. Illinois, Georgia Tech, Texas Tech, Missouri—those are the ones I’ve circled along with.” Missouri may not have the same firepower as Georgia or Alabama, but their path to stacking wins is clearer than most.
WATCH: @MizzouFootball was active in the transfer portal this offseason. Here’s a first look at some of the new faces on offense.
QB Beau Pribula (Penn State)
HB Ahmad Hardy (UL-Monroe)
WR Kevin Coleman Jr. (Mississippi State)@KRCG13 | #Mizzou pic.twitter.com/G01Wi3rEr9
— Bryan Hudnell | KRCG 13 (@BryanHudnellTV) March 11, 2025
Still, the biggest question is whether Missouri’s quarterback gamble will pay off. Beau Pribula has talent, but there’s no guarantee he will step in and immediately light up SEC defenses. It’s a risk, but Eli Drinkwitz has been ahead of the curve before. When Barry Odom was at the helm, Missouri struggled to crack the top 35 in recruiting. Even Gary Pinkel’s 2015 squad sat at 26th nationally. Drinkwitz has routinely beaten those marks, and now with a rating of 89.35 back in high school. Now, when his team finishes .500 in the regular season, with a high-upside quarterback and a hidden-gem running back in his arsenal, this might be the season it all clicks.
If there’s one thing Missouri fans have learned under Drinkwitz, it’s that betting against him usually ends…
Can Eli Drinkwitz Make the Leap? David Pollack Isn’t Convinced
Mizzou football has been on quite a ride. After four straight seasons without a winning record, head coach Eli Drinkwitz flipped the script in a big way. The Tigers stormed to an 11-2 finish in 2023, capping it off with a Cotton Bowl victory. The momentum carried into 2024, where they went 10-3 and secured a Music City Bowl win. But here’s the big question: Can Missouri take the next step and compete for a College Football Playoff title?
On his YouTube channel, David Pollack College Football, David Pollack shared his thoughts—and he’s not exactly sold. “They’ve had some good years,” Pollack said. “Gary Pinkel had a great run. Got to SEC championships. This is a harder deal to do now with 12 than with four or two. You’ve got to put together a bigger run and beat better teams. Even better than the other ones. I just, I don’t think so. I’m not saying ‘yes’ with Missouri.”
Pollack’s skepticism isn’t unfounded. Missouri enters the season with an inexperienced quarterback, and making a deep CFP run will require more than just momentum.
The post Josh Pate Announces Eli Drinkwitz & Missouri’s CFP Fate as Stance on $1.5M Weapon Turns Heads appeared first on EssentiallySports.
