College Football Preview 2024: Missouri Tigers win projections, strengths and weaknesses, quarterback spotlight and more

Head coach: Eli Drinkwitz (fifth season)
2023 record: 11-2 (won Cotton Bowl)
PFF power ranking: 11th
Chance to win SEC: 8%
Strength of schedule: 55th
Projected win total: 8.7
FanDuel win total: 9.5
2024 recruiting rank (On3): No. 21 nationally, No. 12 in the SEC

Eli Drinkwitz was on the hot seat a year ago following a 16-19 start to his tenure at Missouri. His chair is now as cold as ice, as he went on to lead his team to an incredible 11-2 campaign and a Cotton Bowl victory, the Tigers’ best season in a decade.

Expectations are high entering 2024. Mizzou returns one of college football's most prolific passing attacks, which will be headlined by the nation’s best receiver in Luther Burden III.

If the Tigers are going to make the College Football Playoff, the defense will need to answer some questions up front and in the secondary.

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Biggest Strength: The passing game should remain elite

The Tigers return a top-10 quarterback, their top-five receivers from last year and a top-10 offensive line. Not to mention, star offensive coordinator Kirby Moore is back for Year 2, as well.

Biggest Weakness: How well will they defend the pass?

While the Tigers' passing game is their biggest strength, their pass defense is their biggest weakness. Missouri lost many key defensive players to the NFL draft, namely first-round edge defender Darius Robinson and three starters from its excellent secondary. The Tigers were busy in the transfer portal, adding defenders to fill those holes, but none of the additions are proven.

2023 Team Overview

Offense
EPA per play	Yards per play	Successful play rate	Explosive run play rate	Explosive pass play rate
0.135	6.5	38.3%	16.3%	18.5%
17th	T-16th	36th	54th	20th
Defense
EPA allowed per play	Yards allowed per play	Successful play rate allowed	Explosive run rate allowed	Explosive pass rate allowed
-0.046	5.3	33.0%	19.4%	12.4%
53rd	46th	42nd	130th	31st

Three Notable Transfer Portal Additions

OG Cayden Green (Oklahoma): 53.7 PFF grade
CB Toriano Pride Jr. (Clemson): 65.7 PFF grade
RB Marcus Carroll (Georgia State): 72.9 PFF grade

Three Notable Transfer Portal Losses

EDGE DJ Wesolak (Oregon State): N/A
LB Dameon Wilson (East Carolina): 37.2 PFF grade
QB Gabarri Johnson (Oregon State): N/A

Quarterback Spotlight: Brady Cook

2023 Grade: 84.4
Key Stat: 91.2 grade from a clean pocket (T-17th in the FBS)